HISTORY 


-OF    THE 


SEVENTH  IOWA 

Veteran    Volunteer   Infantry. 


DURING  THE 


CIVIL  WAR 


BY- 


H.  I.  SMITH. 

FOUR    YEARS    A    MEMBER. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


MASON  CITY,  IOWA. 


E.    HITCHCOCK,      <5^|£ppE>  PRINTER,  BINDER. 

1903. 


Captain   Company   "  B,"  Seventh   Iowa. 
HISTORIAN. 


PREFACE. 


Of  the  fifty  regiments  of  brave  and  loyal  troops  that  went  out  from 
Iowa  to  battle  for  the  right  in  the  Civil  War,  none  had  a  more  brilliant 
career  or  shed  a  brighter  light  upon  the  State  or  Nation,  than  the  Seventh 
Iowa  Veteran  Volunteer  Infantry. 

From  the  time  of  its  first  engagement,  General  Grant's  first  battle  of 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  Belmont,  Mo.,  November  the  7th,  1861,  to  the 
Grand  Review  at  Washington  at  the  close  of  the  war,  its  name  and  fanae 
was  ever  prominently  before  the  country.  No  regiment  was  more  a  pride 
among  the  lovers  and  defenders  of  the  Union — none  more  emphatically  a 
terror  to  its  foes. 

Yet,  of  the  brave  deeds  of  the  gallant  men  of  this  regiment,  of  their 
varied  experiences — joyful  or  painful,  of  their  hardships  and  trials,  of  their 
toilsome  inarches  and  campaigns,  of  their  martyred  dead  and  their  honor 
ed  living,  no  connected  published  record  has  been  made.  Without  which 
it  must  have  soon  passed  into  oblivion,  or  have  lived  in  the  uncertain 
recollections  of  the  participants  of  those  stirring  scenes.  To  rescue  its 
memory  from  obscurity  has  been  my  ambition.  To  me  it  has  been  a  labor 
of  love,  without  hope  of  reward  pecuniarily.  At  the  request  of  a  large 
number  of  the  regiment,  in  reunion  assembled,  I  was  persuaded  to  make 
this,  my  first  literary  attempt.  I  have  endeavored  in  the  general  write- 
up  to  give  a  truthful  review  of  the  service  of  the  regiment.  It  was  my  for 
tune  to  have  been  a  member  during  its  entire  service  and  with  it  on  the 
fighting  line.  The  mortality  on  the  battlefield  was  not  exceeded  by  any 
regiment  from  the  State  and  only  equalled  by  one.  It  was  one  of  the  few 
veteran  regiments  from  Iowa,  in  the  sense  of  two  enlistments.  I  have 
been  assisted  by  many  officers  and  men  who  have  furnished  me  their  per 
sonal  diaries,  memorandums  and  sketches,  for  which  I  am  under  many  ob 
ligations.  I  make  no  claim  to  literary  ability,  but  I  trust  I  have  compiled 
a  book  of  record  acceptable  to  the  vaterans  whose  deeds  I  have  attempted 
to  record.  I  have  followed  it  from  its  first  gathering  at  Burlington,  Iowa, 
to  and  through  its  battles  of  Belmont,  Fort  Henry.  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh, 
Siege  and  capture  of  Corinth,  luka,  battle  of  Corinth,  Resaca,  Lays  Ferry, 
Nick-a-Jack,  Burnt  Hickory,  Dallas,  Big  Shanty,  Kenesaw,  Lost  Mountain, 
Chatahoochie  River,  Atlanta,  Ezra  Church,  Siege  of  Atlanta,  Love  joy 
Station,  Jonesboro,  Allatoona,  Rome  Cross  Roads,  March  to  the  Sea,  Oc- 
mulgee  River,  Savannah,  Sisters  Ferry,  Campaign  through  the  Carolinas, 
Black  River,  Columbia.  Bentonville,  Goldsboro,  Raleigh,  March  through 
Richmond  to  Washington,  Grand  Review  at  Washington,  to  discharge  at 
Louisville,  Ky. 

Though  well  aware  of  the  imperfections  that  must  necessarily  exist  in 
a  work  of  this  kind.  I  trust  they  will  be  overlooked. 

I  acknowledge  m  \self  under  many  obligations  to  Major  Samuel  Ma- 
hon,  E.  W.  Herman,  J.  W.  and  W.  H.  Akers,  Capt.  C.  H.  Trott,  W.  C. 
Davis,  J.  W.  Bair,  Lieut.  Spalding,  52nd  111.,  and  others  for  kind  assist 
ance.  If  the  members  of  the  regiment  find  that  many  incidents  are  omit 
ted,  that  should  have  been  recorded,  the  author's  excuse  is  he  was  not 
furnished  with  proper  information.  If,  in  writing  this  book,  he  has 
met  the  wishes  and  approval  and  expectations  of  his  comrades,  his  labors 
have  been  amply  rewarded.  THE  AUTHOR. 


M223656 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SEVENTH  IOWA 

VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY   DURING 

THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


CHAPTER     I. 

ORGANIZATION    AT    BURLINGTON,    IOWA,    1861. 

The  Seventh  Iowa  Infantry  was  organized  at  Burlington,  Iowa,  in 
the  month  of  June  and  July,  1861,  and  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  on  the  24th  day  of  July.  The  companies  which  composed  the 
regiment  came  from  different  localities  in  the  state,  from  the  extreme 
northern,  the  extreme  southeastern,  and  the  central  portions  thereof. 
Co.  "A",  Capt.  Reed,  from  Muscatine.  Co.  "B",  Capt.  Gardner,  from 
Nashua.  Co.  "C",  Capt.  McMullin,  from  Oskaloosa.  Co.  "D",  Capt. 
Harper,  from  Ft.  Madison.  Co.  "E",  Capt.  Parrott,  from  Keokuk.  Co. 
"F",  Capt.  Kitteridge,  from  Ottumwa.  Co.  "G",  Capt.  Hedges,  from  Ma- 
rengo.  Co.  "H",  Capt.  Crabb,  Washington.  Co.  "I",  Capt.  Irvin, 
from  Eddyville.  Co.  "K",  Capt.  Black,  from  Knoxville. 

The  whole  regiment  were  formed  in  line  and  sworn  in;  in  a  body. 
Several  men  dropped  out,  ran  away  and  refused  to  be  mustered  into 
the  United  States  service.  After  the  parade  was  dismissed  they  were 
pursued,  some  captured  and  roughly  handled,  and  they  sneaked  home. 

Most  of  the  members  of  the  regiment  were  stalwart  yeomanry, 
from  the  farms  of  the  prairies  of  Iowa,  robust  and  healthy,  inured  to 
the  hardships  of  a  frontier  life,  familiar  with  fire  arms,  and  only  needed 
discipline  and  drill  to  make  the  best  of  soldiers,  which  in  their  subse 
quent  service  they  proved  to  be.  The  rendevous  of  the  regiment,  to 
gether  with  the  5th  and  6th  regiments  was  at  Burlington  on  the  county 
fair  grounds  a  mile  or  two  west  of  the  city,  and  was  designated  ap  Camp 
Warren.  The  barracks  were  temporary  wooden  sheds  with  bunks  and 
loose  straw  for  sleeping  apartments.  Co.  B's  quarters  were  dubbed 
"Hotel  Gardner"  in  honor  of  its  captain.  The  tables  of  these  "hotels" 
were  put  up  in  the  open,  and  consisted  of  a  plank  about  a  foot  wide, 
and  sixteen  feet  long,  with  stakes  driven  in  the  ground  for  legs,  the 
dining  room  was  light,  airy  and  large  enough,  but  the  sun  shown  down 
with  such  intense  heat  at  meal  time,  it  was  almost  unbearable,  and  if 
butter  had  been  one  of  our  rations  it  would  not  have  stood  up  under 
Old  Sols  heated  rays.  There  was  one  beauty  about  it,  the  victuals  never 
got  cold,  if  the  bread  did  get  dry.  Our  rations  consisted  of  bread,  meat, 


6  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

coffee,  brown  sugar,  beans  and  rice,  which  to  those  who  had  been  used 
to  better  fare  at  home,  seemed  a  hardship  to  eat,  however  those  who 
went  through  the  war  experienced  many  a  time,  when  they  would  have 
been  thankful  for  such  quarters  and  fare.  I  very  well  recollect  rny  first 
meal  at  the  Gardner.  I  was  an  entire  stranger  to  the  boarders  of  the 
hotel,  except  the  five  boys  who  went  with  me  from  Cerro  Gordo  Co. 
The  Chef  of  the  hotel  used  to  set  the  table  by  putting  the  t  tin  plates 
and  cups  in  a  row  on  the  table,  with  a  mess  pan  of  fat  pork,  in  which 
floated  fried  salt  pork  (larded),  he  would  put  a  teaspoonful  of  brown 
sugar  on  each  plate,  and  a  camp  kettle  ot  coffee  on  each  end  of  the  table, 
where  we  could  go  and  help  ourselves;  while  the  comrade  on  my  right 
was  gone  to  the  end  of  the  table  for  his  coffee  another  opposite  me  (an 
entire  stranger)  reached  over  and  sniped  his  sugar,  and  when  he  return 
ed  he  accused  me  of  it,  which  I  denied  and  pointed  out  the  culprit  that 
did  do  it,  who  called  me  a  liar.  There  was  some  things  said  there  and 
then  over  the  table  that  I  don't  think  was  grace,  which  resulted  in 
blows,  and  I  threw  the  mess  pan  of  pork  at  his  head  There  was  about 
a  quart  of  grease  in  the  pan,  and  it  ran  all  over  him,  and  in  the  melee 
we  knocked  down  the  frail  table,  and  clinched  to  settle  it,  when  the  offi 
cers  came  out  and  parted  us,  and  saved  me  a  good  whipping,  as  the  man 
proved  afterwards  to  be  the  bully  of  the  regiment.  Tin  cups  of  coffee, 
tin  plates  of  beans,  mess  pans  of  sow  bosom  and  bread — in  fact  all  the 
luxuries  with  which  the  tables  of  the  Gardner  was  loaded  went  to  the 
ground,  and  we  went  supperless  to  bed. 

In  the  haste  to  get  the  troops  to  ths  front  the  regiment  left  the 
state  August  6th,  with  only  one  field  officer,  Col.  J.  G.  Lauman,  D.  T. 
Bowler  as  Adjutant  and  S.  E.  Forsha  as  Quartermaster.  We  embark 
ed  on  the  steamer  Jennie  Whipple  with  a  barge  lasned  to  each  side,,  and 
proceeded  direct  to  St.  Louis.  The  5th  and  6th  regiments  went  down 
on  other  boats  at  the  same  time,  but  were  disembarked  at  Keokuk  to 
reinforce  Colonel  Moore  in  the  border  war  with  the  rebel  Genl.  Green. 
It  was  on  this  trip  that  we  had  the  first  casuality  in  the  regiment.  One 
of  company  "A"  rolled  off  the  boat  in  his  sleep,  into  the  river,  in  the 
dark,  and  was  drowned.  It-  was  on  account  of  the  pressing  military 
necessity  that  the  regiment  went  to  the  iront  before  its  complete  organ 
ization,  and  before  it  was  clothed,  armed  or  equipped.  We  arrived  at  St. 
Louis  on  the  morning  of  August  the  8th,  and  went  into  bivouac  in  the 
grounds  of  the  U.  S.  Arsenal  there.  Arms  were  distributed  to  us  at  St. 
Louis,  the  flank  companies  "A"  and  "B"  getting  the  Springfield  rifle 
with  tape  self  primers,  and  the  other  eight  companies  received  the  im 
proved  "buck  and  ball"  Springfield  musket.  Before  the  arms  were  dis 
tributed,  we  were  hurriedly  ordered  to  take  train  for  Springfield  to  re 
inforce  General  Lyon  who  was  fighting  a  battle  at  Wilson's  Creek,  but 
before  we  embarked  the  result  of  his  death  and  defeat  was  received 


COL.  JACOB  G.  LAUMAN, 

First   Colonel  of  the  Hesriment. 

Promoted  to  Brig.  Gen.  and  Breveted  a  Major  General. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  .  i 

and  we  were  ordered  to  Jefferson  Barracks. 

On  the  evening  of  August  16th  we  were  loaded  on  flat  cars  and 
given  an  all  nights  ride  to  Ironton,  Mo.  On  account  of  not  being  proper 
ly  clothed  we  suffered  with  the  cold,  there  we  were  placed  under  the 
command  of  General  A.  B.  Prentiss,  where  we  put  in  our  time  drilling. 

Companies  "B"  and  "H"  under  command  of  Captain  Gideon 
Gardner  were  sent  to  Potosi  to  guard  the  outposts  and  do  Provost  duty. 
We  marched  across  the  country,  drove  out  the  guerillas  and  arrived  at 
Potosi  in  the  night;  as  we  had  no  tents  we  were  ordered  to  the  court 
house  for  lodging,  where  we  laid  our  tired  limbs  to  rest  on  the  floor 
of  the  court  room,  which  was  covered  with  what  we  supposed  was  saw 
dust;  it  had  just  been  evacuated  by  the  rebels  when  we  got  there.  We 
had  not  laid  there  long  before  we  were  all  stricken  with  a  violent  itch 
ing  sensation,  and  there  was  no  sleep  or  rest.  With  the  earliest  dawn  we 
examined  to  find  the  cause  of  our  scratch  or  midnight  attack,  and  dis 
covered  that  the  saw  dust  on  the  floor  was  not  a  pure  article,  but  was 
adulterated  with  fleas  and  gray  backs  in  nearly  equal  parts;  we  made 
a  big  kick  to  our  officers  in  the  morning  on  our  quarters,  and  they  con-" 
eluded  we  had  better  "flea  from  the  wrath  to  come,"  and  we  were  billet 
ed  in  some  empty  houses  around  lown  while  we  stayed  there. 

It  was  there  I  stood  guard  for  the  first  time;  at  night  it  was  dark, 
dismal  ana  rainy  with  occasional  flashes  of  lightning,  follov/ed  by 
rumbling  thunder;  the  guard  line  ran  through  a  grave  yard  with  guard 
headquarters  near  the  corner  of  the  cemetery;  as  we  had  not  drawn 
any  overcoats,  and  rubber  blankets  and  ponchos,  were  not  yet  known  to 
the  army,  we  utilized  our  grey  woollen  blankets  for  overcoats,  and  drap 
ed  them  over  our  shoulders  to  protect  us  from  the  rain.  My  post  came  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  cemetery,  a  dark,  lonesome  and  foreboding 
place;  I  could  see  when  the  lightning  flashed,  in  my  already  over 
wrought  imagination,  what  I  supposed  to  be  ghosts  moving  about  in  the 
cemetery  which  nearly  terrorized  me,  raised  my  hair,  and  the  goose 
pimples  stood  out  on  my  back  like  hay  cocks;  and  even  when  I  ascer 
tained  that  they  were  guards  on  duty  with  their  blankets  over  their 
heads  standing  up  straight  to  keep  the  rain  off,  I  four,  d  it  anything  but  a 
pleasant  duty  to  stand  guard  and  I  a  thousand  times  wished  myseif 
home  with  my  mother  before  the  second  relief  came  around  and  let  me 
off.  In  that  country  it  is  the  custom,  instead  of  putting  up  the  grave 
stones  perpendicular  at  the  head  of  the  graves,  to  build  a  brick  wall 
around  each  grave  about  two  feet  high,  ana  cover  the  vault  over  with 
a  large  marble  slab,  on  which  they  put  the  inscription.  A  devil  may 
care  member  of  company  "H"  who  never  feared  for  anything,  and  there 
was  no  shelter  from  the  storm,  when  he  came  off  duty,  got  some  of  the 
boys  to  help  him,  and  they  lifted  up  the  slab  from  one  of  the  graves, 
and  let  him  crawl  under  out  of  the  wet;  when  the  next  relief  came  in, 


8  HISTORY    OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

one  of  them,  a  somewhat  timid  youth,as  the  ground  was  watersoaked, 
wrapped  his  blanket  around  him  and  laid  himself  down  on  top,  little 
thinking  there  was  anything  alive  beneath;  the  fellow  below  always  full 
of  his  tricks,  in  a  sepulchural  voice  and  stage  whisper  exclaimed,  "get 
off  my  grave  you  yankee  son  of  a  gun."  It  scared  the  fellow  on  top  so 
bad  that  he  screamed  and  ran,  knocking  down  three  stacks  of  guns,  and 
never  stopped  until  he  got  to  camp,  and  the  company  "H"  man  had  to 
stand  his  guard  the  rest  of  the  night.  Here  occurred  the  first  death  in 
company  "B".  Sergeant  Sheldon  Arnold  succombed  to  disease  and  died 
and  corporal  H.  I.  Smith  was  promoted  to  his  place. 

While  we  were  stationed  at  Potosi  a  young  citizen  of  that  county 
named  J.  S.  Wilkinson  enlisted  in  Co.  "B",  who  gave  us  much  informa 
tion  in  reference  to  the  residents  there,  pointing  out  rebel  sympathizers 
and  traitors.  Capt.  Gardner,  Commander  of  the  post,  had  his  headquar 
ters  in  the  principal  hotel  on  the  corner  near  the  court  house,  which 
was  vacant.  Just  up  the  side  street  was  another  hotel  open  and  occu 
pied,  where  the  rebel  sympathizers  from  town  and  country  congregated 
opposite  which  was  a  livery  barn,  with  flag  staff  on  the  roof,  where 
Wilkinson  said  the  rebel  flag  was  displayed  before  we  captured  the 
town.  It  was  proposed  by  Sergeant  Folsom  of  Co.  "B"  that  we  take 
our  company  flag  that  hung  from  the  window  of  the  court  house  and 
put  it  up  on  the  rebel  pole;  Sergt.  Folsom  offered  to  take  an  armed 
squad  and  guard  anyone  while  putting  up  our  flag,  which  corporal  H.  I. 
Smith  of  Co.  "B"  volunteered  to  do,  which  was  done;  Captain  Gardner 
saw  the  flag  displayed  there  and  ordered  it  taken  down.  Sergeant  Fol 
som  again  formed  his  squad  and  went  and  took  it  down  as  ordered; 
while  passing  the  porch  of  the  hotel  where  about  a  dozen  secession  sym 
pathizers  were  sitting,  one  of  them  volunteered  the  remark  that,  "it 
was  well  we  did,  or  they  would  have  done  it  for  us."  Sergeant  Folsom 
immediately  about  faced  his  squad  and  corporal  Smith  again  shinned  up 
the  lightning  rod  and  bent  the  flag  to  the  halyards,  sent  it  to  the  mast 
head  and  the  rebels  were  told  that  the  first  man  that  attempted  to  pull 
it  down  would  be  shot;  he  then  marched  his  squad  back  to  the  court 
house,  put  a  man  on  guard  in  the  dome  and  instructed  him  to  guard  it 
within  easy  range  and  ordered  him  to  shoot  anyone  who  touched  it ; 
then  reported  to  Captain  Gardner  what  was  said  and  done.  The  Captain 
still  demanded  that  it  should  be  taken  down,  saying  that  "we  would  pro 
voke  them  to  fight."  Sergt.  Folsom  replied  that  he  supposed  "that  was 
what  we  were  there  to  do."  The  Captain  still  insisted  that  it  should 
be  taken  down.  After  a  hurried  consultation,  a  majority  of  the  company 
refused  to  comply  with  his  order;  when  he  ordered  corporal  Smith  un 
der  arrest  unless  he  would  take  the  flag  down,  which  he  refused  to  do, 
and  referred  him  to  Major  General  John  A.  Dix's  order  which  had  just 
been  issued:  "Whoever  attempts  to  haul  down  the  American  flag,  shoot 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  9 

him  on  the  spot."  This  did  not  satisfy  the  Captain,  so  he  tried  to  get 
Co.  "B"  to  do  it,  which  they  refused  to  do;  then  he  ordered  Captain 
Crabb  of  Co.  "H"  with  his  company  to  do  it.  They  grounded  arms  and 
refused  to  do  it;  Then  Captain  Gardner  made  himself  ridiculous  and  or 
dered  corporal  Smith  shot  for  disobedience  of  orders,  which  of  course 
he  could  get  no  one  to  do.  Sergt.  A.  J.  Felt,  who  was  acting  Post  Ad 
jutant,  was  ordered  to  make  out  charges  and  specifications  for  court 
martial  proceedings  against  corporal  Smith  and  sent  to  Ironton  to  Gen 
eral  Prentiss.  Felt  returned  with  an  order  to  release  Smith  from  ar 
rest,  and  the  result  was  that  Captain  Gardner  succeeded  in  making  him 
self  very  unpopular  with  the  company  and  resigned  before  a  year  of  his 
service  had  expired,  and  Lieutenant  Reiniger  was  appointed  Captain 
in  his  stead,  and  things  were  harmonious  in  the  command  after  that. 

August  28th  eight  companies  of  the  regiment,  with  other  com 
mands,  broke  camp  and  marched  to  Cape  Girardeau  by  the  way  of 
Fredricktown  and  Jackson,  arriving  Sept.  8th.  From  Cape  Girardeau  by 
the  steamer  Louisiana  we  proceeded  down  the  Mississippi  river  to  Cairo, 
thence  to  Fort  Holt.  The  regiment  had  just  got  camp  established,  the 
brush  cut  away  and  quarters  nicely  policed,  when  we  were  sent  to  Camp 
Crittenden.  Here  was  our  first  skirmish,  we  had  one  man  wounded. 
Thence  to  Norfolk,  Mo.,  and  finally  settled  at  Birds  Point.  Genl.  Pren 
tiss  was  superceeded  by  Genl.  Grant  on  the  march. 

Companies  "B"  and  "H"  remained  at  Potosi  until  October  doing 
provost,  scout  and  guard  duty.  While  there  company  •  B"  took  posses 
sion  of  a  rebel  printing  office,  changed  the  name  of  the  paper  to  "Lau- 
man's  Left  Bower,"  The  regiment  was  running  a  paper  at  Ivonton 
called  "Lauman's  Own."  Its  politics  was  changed  from  a  secession  sheet 
to  a  hot  Union  paper.  Sergeant  A.  J.  Felt,  who  has  since  been  Lieut. 
Governor  of  Kansas,  was  installed  as  editor.  Z.  A.  Rutherford  was  fore 
man  and  Billy  Palmer  was  typo;  the  rest  of  the  company  were  devils. 

About  the  middle  of  October  these  companies  joined  the  regiment. 
While  at  Birds  Point  the  regiment  was  uniformed  for  the  first  time. 
For  some  reason  wnich  I  never  understood  our  regiments  first  uniform 
was  different  from  any  other,  and  was  not  a  regulation  suit,  it  con 
sisted  of  a  dark  blue  jacket  with  light  blue  trimmings,  light  blue  pants 
and  fatigue  cap,  a  sort  of  a  zouave  outfit,  at  Corinth  we  wore  the 
Scotch  Glengary  same  as  tne  12th  Ills.,  wnich  distinguished  us  from 
other  commands;  after  this  was  worn  out  we  drew  the  regulation  uni 
form,  which  we  continued  to  wear  all  through  the  rest  of  our  service. 
Birds  Point,  Mo., opposite  Cairo,  was  about  the  limit  of  river  trans 
portation,  until  Island  No. 10  was  taken  by  our  forces,  as  the  rebels  held 
Columbus,  Ky.,  with  its  strong  fortifications  and  heavy  ordinance,  com 
manding  the  river.  It  is  a  flat  tableau  of  sandy  land,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Mississippi,  where  we  were  camped  with  other  regiments  of  Gen- 


10  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

eral  Grant's  command.  It  was  a  very  unhealthy  place,  many  died  of 
dysentery  and  malarial  fever,  so  that  there  were  several  funerals  each 
day.  Our  regiment  did  not  suffer  as  much  in  that  respect  as  others, 
as  sanitary  discipline  was  more  rigidly  enforced  by  the  officers  and  we 
were  not  there  so  long  as  some  of  the  Illinois  regiments.  '  General 
Grant's  headquarters  were  at  Cairo,  111.  He  used  to  come  over  with  his 
staff  on  the  ferry,  visit  and  review  us  frequently.  In  the  early  days 
of  the  war  as  Brigadier  General  he  wore  quite  a  gay  uniform,  with  gor 
geous  black  plumes  in  his  hat;  as  he  acquired  higher  rank  and  fame,  he 
was  more  simple  in  his  dress. 

At  i^irds  Point  we  were  for  the  first  time  organized  with  a  full 
complemnt  of  officers.  Captain  Wentz,  a  gallant  officer  of  company  "G" 
First  Iowa  Infantry,  who  had  seen  service  in  the  German  army,  and  was 
fresh  from  the  battle  of  Wilsons  Creek,  and  the  campaigns  of  that  fam 
ous  regiment,  was  commissioned  Lieut.  Colonel.  E.  W.  Rice,  a  Sergeant 
of  company  "C"  was  made  the  Major,  and  the  regimental  staff  was  made 
up  as  follows: 

Chaplain,  I.  Harvey  Clarke. 

Adjutant,  D.  T.  Bowler. 

Surgeon,  Amos  Whitter. 

Hospital  Steward,  J.  B.  Rich. 

Commisary  Sergeant,  Stephen  Merrill. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant,  George  Bennett. 

Drum  Major,  W.  E.  Thayer. 

Fife  Major,  William  Johnson. 

Wagon  Master,  George  House. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  11 


CHAPTER  II. 
THE  BATTLE  OF  BELMONT. 

It  will  be  remembered  by  those  who  were  selected  for  that  expe 
dition  that  we  were  camped  at  Cairo,  Birds  Point  and  Ft.  Holt,  and  that 
on  the  6th  day  of  Nov.,  1861,  an  order  was  given  by  General  Grant  for 
all  in  the  regiment  selected  who  were  able  for  duty  to  be  ready  to  move 
at  a  moments  notice,  with  two  days  rations  and  forty  rounds  of  amuni- 
tion,  the  sick  to  oe  left  in  camp  with  a  detail  from  each  company  as 
camp  guard;  that  in  afternoon  the  steamers  Montgomery,  Belle,  Mem 
phis,  and  Scott  came  over  from  Cairo  and  the  troops,  consisting  of  the 
7th  Iowa,  Col.  Lauman;  22nd  Illinois,  Col.  Dougherty;  27th  Illinois,  Col. 
Buford;    30th   Illinois,   Col.   Fouke;    31st  Illinois,   Col.   John  A.   Logan; 
a  section  of  Taylors  Chicago  Battery  of  two  twelve  pound  howitzers; 
Capt.  Delano's  Co.  of  Ills.  Cavalry  56  strong;  and  one  company  of  inde 
pendent  cavalry,  commanded  by  Capt.  Dollins,  70  men.     These  troops 
were   quietly    embarked   on    these   transports,   nobody   but   the   officers 
highest  in  command  knowing  what  we  were  going  to  do.    After  all  were 
loaded  we  dropped  down  the  Mi.sFn;sippi  river,  the  wooden  gun  boats,the 
"Lexington,"   Capt.    Stembel,   and   "Tyler,"    Capt.   Walke   commanding, 
acting  as  convoys.     After  going  about  ten  miles  we  swung  into  the 
Kentucky  shore,  threw  out  a  strong  guard  and  tied  up  for  the  night, 
the  troops  all  but  the  guards  sleeping  on  the  transports.     Early  in  the 
morning  of  the  7th  we  dropped  down  to  a  point  on  the  Missouri  side 
about  two  miles  above  the  village  of  Belmont,  debarked,  as  we  suppos 
ed  out  of  range  of  the  batteries  at  Columbus,  but  while  we  were  landing 
we  were  shelled  from  the  rebel  forts  at  Columbus,  Ky.     Some  of  the 
heavy  rifled  projectiles  going  just  over  the  transports,  burying  them 
selves  in  the  bank  near  the  gang  plank,  over  which  the  troops  were 
passing,  and  after  detailing  two  companies  of  the  7th  Iowa  and  three 
companies  of  the  22nd  Illinois  to  guard  boats  under  command  of  Capt. 
Detrick,  the  rest  of  the  command  proceeded  to  advance  on  the  enemy. 
From  here  the  troops  were  marched  with  skirmishers  in  advance  for 
about  a  miie  down  the  river,  and  there  formed"  in  line  of  battle,  the  first 
brigade  consisting  of  the  27th,  30th  and  31st  Illinois  regiments,  Capt. 
Dollins  Co.  of  cavalry  and  Capt.  Taylors  battery  under  command  of 
Brig.  Gen.  John  A.  McClernand  taking  tne  right  of  the  line,  and  eight 
companies  of  the  7th  la.  and  seven  companies  of  the  22nd  111.  compris 
ing  the  2nd  brigade  under  command  of  Col.  H.  Dougherty,  taking  the 
left.     The  command  moved  forward  and  the  skirmishers  became  en 
gaged  at  once.     The  firing  was  brisk  but  the  enemy's  pickets  were 
steadily  driven  back  to  their  main  line  and  our  skirmishers  only  halted 


12  HISTORY    OF   THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

for  our  support  to  come  up.  Then  the  battle  opened  in  real  earnest 
and  continued  for  seven  hours,  the  enemy  giving  ground  all  the  time. 
The  very  audacity  of  the  attack  seemed  to  impress  our  men  with  a  sense 
of  the  necessity  of  the  occasion  that  they  seemed  almost  inspired  to 
deeds  of  daring  and  valor,  and  they  pressed  forward  with  the  most  ob 
stinate  courage,  irresistibly  driving  the  enemy  back  in  confusion,  into 
their  camps  which  were  n  an  open  field,  and  around  which  they  had 
felled  trees  outwardly,  making  an  abatis  almost  impossible  to  get 
through.  Here  we  halted  to  breath  and  reform  our  lines.  As  soon  as 
the  enemy  was  driven  into  open  grounds  and  it  could  be  seen  that  from 
the  forts  at  Columbus  they  could  shell  the  woods  without  danger  to 
their  troops,  a  terrific  fire  of  solid  shot  and  shell  was  opened  upon  us 
from  all  the  batteries  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  literally  mowing 
the  tree  tops  where  we  were  forming  for  another  advance.  As  soon  as 
all  was  ready,  the  order  was  given  and  our  men  dashed  forward  firing 
and  hurrahing  as  they  advanced,  and  when  the  obstructions  were 
scaled  a  final  charge  was  ordered  anc1  away  we  went  over  the  open 
field,  and  after  one  volley  from  us  they  were  completely  routed.  They 
abandoned  their  battery  and  disappeared  under  the  river  bank,  and  the 
victory  was  ours.  We  took  possession  and  burned  their  camp,  captured 
their  artillery,  garrison,  flag  and  all  eqiupage,  turned  their  battery  and 
our  own  on  their  transports  which  were  ferrying  over  reinforcements. 
Lest  it  might  be  supposed  that  their  force  was  inferior  to  ours  I 
will  here  state  that  according  to  tkeii  own  official  reports,before  any  re 
inforcements  arrived  tney  had  five  regiments  of  infantry  (6  guns)  and  a 
squadron  of  cavalry,  as  v  ill  be  more  fully  seen  hereafter.  Thus  we  see 
that  they  had  five  more  companies  than  we  did  in  the  outset.  It  was  at 
this  point  that  the  writer  was  severely  wounded,  and  taken  a  short  dis 
tance  to  the  rear  and  laid  under  a  tree  beside  a  wounded  rebel  where  I 
witnessed  the  destruction  of  their  camp.  There  I  lay  until  the  rebels 
being  reinforced  temporarily  occupied  the  ground.  While  they  were 
parleying  as  to  what  to  do  with  us  who  were  wounded,  Col.  Logan's 
regiment,  with  himself  in  command,  came  charging  through  and  drove 
them  back.  We  were  then  picked  up  and  put  into  an  army  wagon  drawn 
by  four  mules  and  filled  with  wounded  men.  The  mules  were  then  put  on 
a  run  through  corn  fields  and  woods  to  the  boats,  avoiding  the  roads 
because  tne  rebels  had  been  heavily  reinforced  and  had  formed  a  line 
between  our  troops  and  the  river,  covering  the  road  to  the  boats.  The 
wounded  had  only  just  been  put  on  the  transports  when  a  te,rrific  volley 
cf  musketry  was  poured  upon  us  from  the  rebels  on  the  bank  of  the 
river.  The  balls  literally  riddled  the  upper  works  of  the  boats  where  the 
wounded  lay  in  winrows  on  the  cabin  floor.  There  being  scarcely  any 
one  on  board  but  the  wounded,  there  was  no  resistance  offered  save  by 
a  few  who  were  slightly  disabled.  The  fire  was  so  fierce  that  it  was 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  13 

impossible  to  even  cut  the  lines  and  get  under  way.  There  we  lay  un 
til  the  gun  boats  came  to  our  rescue,  and  gave  them  a  broadside  which 
put  them  to  flight.  The  lines  were  then  loosened  and  we  swung  into 
the  stream  and  proceeded  on  cur  way  back  to  camp.  Those  who 
were  not  injured  were  left  a"t  Cairo  and  Birds  Point,  the  wounded  being 
taken  to  Mound  City  Hospital,  where  we  arrived  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  8th.  I  was  informed  and  hnd  by  official  reports  that  our  heaviest 
loss  occurred  on  our  way  back  to  the  transports  where  our  exhausted 
troops  had  to  cut  their  way  back  to  the  boats,  through  fresh  troops 
which  had  been  thrown  across  the  river  from  Columbus  between  our 
forces  and  the  transports,  under  cover  of  their  forts.  The  rebels  claimed 
the  victory  and  most  assuredly  we  did;  why  should  we  not?  We  accom 
plished  all  and  more  than  we  started  to  do,  we  captured  and  burned 
their  camp,  took  their  battery  and  brought  three  pieces  back  to  camp 
with  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  We  must,  of  course,  admit  a  great 
sacrifice  in  killed  and  wounded;  but  we  have  the  satisfaction  of  blowing 
that  we  punished  them  as  severely,  if  we  did  have  to  do  it  at  such  dis 
advantage.  According  to  their  own  reports  we  fought  them  over  two  to 
one  on  tneir  own  ground,  in  the  woods  with  which  they  were  familiar, 
and  behind  defensive  works  which  they  had  been  preparing  for  months, 
in  the  face  of  a  battery  at  Belmont  and  withm  easy  range  of  the  guns 
at  Columbus.  We  were  beyond  the  reach  of  reinforcements,  supplies, 
and  amunition,  with  no  telegraphic  communication,  and  our  base  at 
Cairo  over  twenty  miles  away.  Neither  did  we  have  any  knowledge  of 
the  numbers  or  position  of  the  enemy.  Our  whole  force  after  deducting 
the  five  companies  left  at  the  boats,  consisted  of  four  and  a  Hall  regi 
ments  of  infantry,  one  battery,  and  two  companies  of  cavalry.  With 
this  force  we  attacked  and  successfully  ^defeated  the  five  regiments  of 
infantry,  one  battery  and  one  batallion  of  cavalry  as  officially  shown 
by  Maj.  Gen.  Polks  report  after  the  battle.  From  this  we  learn  that  the 
enemy  consisted  of  the  13th  Arkansas,  12th,  13th,  21st,  and  22nd  Tennes 
see, Beltzhoover's  battery  commanded  by  Capt.  Watson,  and  a  batallion 
of  cavalry  under  Lieut.  Col.  Miller;  all  of  these,  under  command  of  Gen. 
Pillow.  In  addition  to  these  forces  there  was  a  large  force  across  the 
river  and  an  adequate  number  of  steamers  at  The  landing  to  briug  over 
reinforcements.  The  same  report  says:  "Capt.  Stewart's  battery  of  the 
Louisiana  artillery  was  advanced  to  a  position  on  the  Kentucky  side 
of  the  river  with  which  he  could  reach  us  and  our  gun  boats  with  ease." 
And  he  goes  on  to  say  that  from  this  point  this  battery  and  Capt.  Ham 
ilton's  battery  (a  heavy  seige  battery)  and  several  guns  from  the  fort  at 
Columbus  opened  on  us.  He  says  that  the  firing  on  the  pickets  was 
"heard  at  10:20  a.  m.  and  forty  minutes  afterward  the  engagement  be 
came  general  in  all  arms."  Receiving  a  request  from  Gen.  Pillow  for 
additional  ammunition  and  reinforcements  the  2nd  Tenn.,  Col.  Walker, 


14  HISTORY   OF   THE  SEVENTH   IOWA 

and  two  batteries.  Capt.  Jackson's  and  Capt.  Folk's  were  sent  over. 
By  this  time  it  was  obvious  that  further  reinforcements  became  nec 
essary,  and  I  sent  over  the  15th  Tenn.,  Col.  Carrol,  and  the  llth  Lou 
isiana,  Col.  Marks."  Again  says  Gen.  Polk:  "It  was  obvious  from  the 
yielding  of  our  column  to  the  heavy  pressure  of  the  masses  of  the 
enemy's  infantry,  and  the  firm  assault  of  their  heavy  battery  that  still 
further  reinforcements  were  needed.  I  ordered  the  first  brigade  of  Gen. 
Cheatham's  division  under  Col.  Preston  Smith.  The  General  having  ar 
rived  in  advance  of  his  brigade  I  directed  him  to  take  the  nearest 
steamer,  move  promptly  across  the  river,  rally  and  take  command  of 
the  portions  of  regiments  in  sight,  and  support  the  movement  ordered 
tnrough  Col.  Marks."  He  says:  "At  this  juncture  the  enemy  fired  our 
tents  and  advancing  his  battery  near  the  river  opened  a  heavy  fire  on 
our  steamers  which  were  transporting  our  troops  across  the  river,  in 
some  instances  driving  shot  through  two  at  a  time,  I  then  crrected 
Capt.  Smith's  battery  to  move  to  the  rive.-  bank  opposite  the  feld  of 
battle  and  open  on  the  enemy's  position,  and  also  directed  Maj.  Stewart 
in  command  of  the  heavy  guns  in  the  fort  to  open  on  the  same  position, 
it  now  being  seen  ihat  these  guns  could  be  used  without  danger  to  our 
troops.  This  joint  fire  was  so  terrific  as  to  dislodge  the  enemy,  silence 
his  guns  and  cause  him  to  take  up  his  line  of  march  tor  his  boats.  On 
arrival  of  Gen.  Cheatham's  brigade  i  took  charge  of  it  togethet  with 
Capt.  White's  Co.  of  cavalry  and  proceeued  with  them  across  the  river, 
having  first  ordered  two  regiments  of  Gen.  McCowan's  division,  the  4th 
Tenn.,  and  12th  Louisiana  to  follow.  On  landing  I  met  Gens.  Pillow 
and  Cheatham  whom  I  directed  to  press  the  enemy  to  his  boats.  This 
order  was  executed  with  alacrity;  the  route  over  which  we  passed  was 
strewn  with  the  dead  and  wounded.  On  arriving  at  the  point  where 
his  transports  lay,  I  ordered  headed  the  15th  senior  Tenn.  regiment, 
under  a  field  thickly  set  with  corn,  to  be  deployed  along  the  river  bank 
within  easy  reach  of  the  boats.  This  was  accomplished  and  a  heavy 
fire  opened  upon  them  simultaneously,  riddling  them  with  balls.,'  Still 
further  he  goes  on  to  say:  "That  in  a  conflict  continued  through  so 
many  hours  and  so  hotly  contested,  die  list  of  causalities  must  be  ex 
pected  to  be  large.  Our  loss  killed  was  105;  wounded  419;  missing  117; 
total  641."  According  to  the  official  reports  the  Union  loss  was  as  fol 
lows:  22nd  111.,  killed  23,  wounded  74,  missing  37.  7th  Iowa,  killed 
51,  wounded  127,  missing  39.  27th  111.,  killed  11,  wounded  42,  missing 
42.  30th  111.,  killed  9,  wounded  27,  missing  8.  31st  111.,  killed  10,  wound 
ed  61,  missing  4.  Taylor's  battery,  wounded  5.  Cavalry,  wounded  5. 
Total  killed  105;  wounded  338;  missing  130;  total  573.  Gen.  Pillow  in 
a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  \\  ar  complained  that  Gen.  Polk  did  not  send 
him  reinforcements  enough,  his  language  being:  "After  four  hours 
of  hard  fighting  against  a  force  three  times  my  own,  and  after  a  loss  of 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  15 

quite  one  fourth  of  force  engaged  to  save  my  command  from  destruc 
tion,  I  at  last  ordered  my  command  to  fall  back  upon  the  river  bank." 
And  again  he  says:  "This  bloody  battle  was  within  three-fourths  of 
a  mile  of  the  main  army,  only  the  river  interposing,  and  there  \vas  not 
less  than  10,000  men  well  armed  and  disciplined  looking  on  the  conflict 
from  the  other  side  of  the  river,  within  a  constructed  line  and  com 
manding  defensive  works." 

To  have  so  fully  accomplished  the  object  of  the  expedition  under 
such  disadvantages  and  against  a  force  so  much  superior  in  numbers, 
both  officers  and  men  did  more  than  their  duty.  They  must  have  in 
fact  have  all  been  heroes.  Col.  Dougherty,  commanding  the  2nd  bri 
gade  was  three  times  wounded  in  the  leg,  and  was  taken  prisoner  by 
the  enemy.  All  the  Illinois  regiments  lost  heavily  in  officers  and  men. 
That  every  officer  in.  the  7th  la.  did  his  duty  no  better  evidence  can  be 
adduced  than  the  fact  that  Col.  Lauman  was  severely  wounded  Lieut. 
Col.  Wentz  was  killed,  Maj.  Rice  was  wounded,  and  the  Adjutant  taken 
prisoner.  Out  of  the  seven  Captains  with  their  companies  Capts.  Par- 
rott,  Harper,  Kittredge,  and  Gardner  were  wounded;  Lieut.  Dodge,  Co. 
"B,"  and  Lieut.  Gardner,  Co.  "I,"  were  killed  Lieut.  Ream, 
Co.  "C,"  was  wounded.  That  the  men  did  their  duty  you 
may  readily  learn  from  the  mortality  list,  Col.  Lauman's 
report  says:  "Out  of  an  aggregate  somewhat  over  400,  51 
were  killed,  three  died  of  wounds,  10  missing,  39  prisoners,  124  wound 
ed;  total  227."  Among  those  i  remember  as  conspicuous  for  bravery 
was  Lieut.  Col.  Wentz.  There  were  several  of  the  officers  wives  of 
the  Illinois  regiments  who  did  noble  and  efficient  service  in  ministering 
to  the  wounded  on  ihe  boat  I  was  on  air  night. 

The  Confederate  Congress  passed  a  resolution  of  thanks  to  Maj. 
Gen.  Polk,  Brig.  Gen.  Pillow,  Brig.  Genl.  Cneatham  and  officers  and 
soldiers  under  their  command  for  "gallant  and  distinguished  services, 
and  desperate  courage  they  exhibited  in  sustaining  for  several  hours 
and  under  most  disadvantageous  circumstances  an  attack  by  a  force  of 
the  enemy  superior  to  their  own  both  in  number  and  equipments,  &c., 
at  the  Battle  of  Belmont." 

General  Polk  says  in  his  official  report:  "The  battle  was  fought 
against  great  odds  botn  in  numbers  and  in  position,  and  our  triumph 
was  due  to  the  favoring  Providence  of  Almighty  God."  And  further 
he  says:  "In  such  a  conflict  of  arms  illustrating  the  superior  inettie  cf 
the  Southern  soldier,"  &c.,  &c. 

In  the  face  of  the  foregoing  self  congratulations  and  silly  bom 
bast,  it  ig  amusing  to  compare  the  record  and  show  the  absurdity  of 
such  extravagent  stuff.  Here  is  the  record:  Four  and  a  half  regiments 
of  infantry  .one-half  battery  and  two  companies  of  cavalry,  attacked  and 
successfully  routed,  on  their  own  ground,  under  the  guns  of  their  own 


16  HISTORY   OP  THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

forts,  burned  their  own  camp,  took  their  battery  and  a  large  number 
of  prisoners,  taking  them  off  the  field  not  less  than,  as  previously 
shown  at  least  ten  regiments  of  confederate  infantry,  five  companies 
of  cavalry  and  three  batteries.  More  than  this,  just  across  the  river 
there  were  10,000  of  their  troops  in  reserve,  and  plenty  of  boats  to  ferry 
them  over. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  from  Lieut.  J.  F.  Warner 
of  Co.  "K",  who  was  one  of  the  boat  guards  during  the  battle  which  was 
published  in  the  Charles  City  Intelligencer  Nov.  21st,  1861. 

"Lieut.  Col.  August  Wentz  was  killed  by  a  bullet  hitting  him  in 
the  side  he  fell  mortally  wounded.  At  that  time  the  enemy  had  re 
ceived  the  reinforcements  which  compelled  our  forces  to  retire,  and  they 
had  just  fallen  back  from  the  camp.  Col.  "Wentz,  but  a  short  time  prev 
ious,  was  urging  his  men  to  deeds  of  valor  by  referring  to  the  battle  of 
Wilson's  Creek,  saying:  "The  Iowa  first  did  well  at  Springfield,  but 
the  Seventh  are  equaling  them."  When  he  fell  mortally  wounded,  the 
men  sprung  to  bear  him  away,  when  he  forbade  them,  saying:  "Let  me 
alone,  boys,  I  want  to  die  on  the  battle  held."  These  were  his  last 
words. 

The  next  day  the  wife  of  Col.  Wentz  obtained  a  pass  from  one  of 
the  staff  officers,  and  went  to  Columbus  on  the  steamer  Memphis  for 
the  body  of  her  husband.  Every  courtesy  the  occasion  demanded  w~s 
paid  her  by  the  rebel  officers.  A  Lieut.  Col.  of  one  of  the  regiments 
accompanied  her  to  the  battle  field,  where  she  found  the  body,  robbed 
of  its  clothing,  and  ordered  it  taken  to  the  boat,  on  which  it  returned 
to  Cairo." 

For  over  an  hour  in  the  hottest  of  the  engagement,  the  artillery 
of  both  forces  became  useless,  because  of  the  close  mingling  of  friend 
and  foe.  After  our  forces  had  retreated  to  tne  boats,  the  gun  boats  took 
position  and  with  the  artillery  on  the  transports  poured  a  concentrated 
fire  among  the  enemy,  who  had  gathered  in  a  dense  mass  along  the 
shore.  How  many  of  them  were  killed'  by  the  terrific  fire  poured  in 
among  them  we  could  not  ascertain,  but  from  attending  circumstances 
it  must  have  been  immense;  and  this  view  of  the  case  is  strengthened 
from  their  course  afterwaras,  in  refusing  our  messengers  the  piivilege 
of  visiting  the  spot. 

Our  total  loss  was  reported  at  450.  The  enemy  crossed  the  river 
under  the  proteceion  of  .the  batteries  at  Columbus,  in  such  position 
that  the  fire  from  the  gun-boat  was  not  able  to  prevent  it. 

The  result  of  this  battle  is  regarded  as  a  victory  for  our  side, 
although  the  federal  forces  were  eventually  compelled  to  "take  water." 
Our  troops  completely  whipped  a  force  more  than  double  their  own, 
and  well  entrenched, — captured  guns  and  prisoners  and  much  of  the 
enemies  camp  equiqage,  but  were  compelled  to  retreat  before  rebel 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  17 

reinforcements  from  Columbus.  "No  troops  whether  "ir-regular," 
or  "regulars"  of  this  or  any  other  country,  ever  showed  more  hand-to- 
hand  and  bayonet-to  bayonet  valor.  We  challenge  an  exhibition  of 
better  fighting — of  more  skill  and  daring  on  the  part  of  officers,  and 
stricter  military  obedience  and  persevering,  tenacious,  bull-dog  fight 
on  the  part  of  the  soldiers,  than  were  exhibited  in  this  battle  by  the 
Union  troops.  It  was  not  their  fault  that  a  battle  thus  fought  was  not 
a  total  and  unquestionable  victory  for  them." 

The  killed  and  wounded  in  the  Seventh  Iowa  were  about  as  many 
as  the  balance  of  the  whole  command  put  together,  and  when  you  take 
into  consideration  that  there  were  only  eight  companies  engaged,  it 
will  readily  be  seen  that  the  percentage  of  loss  was  fearful  to  contem 
plate. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  this  battle  which  began  about  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  our  little  army  of  2,500  men  in  action  was  in  a 
severe  conflict  for  nearly  four  hours  in  the  forenoon;  then,  after  a  re 
spite  following  the  capture  01  the  enemies  encampment,  in  another 
hot  conflict  with  General  Cheatham's  reinforcements  and  routed  them; 
then  again,  after  embarking,  for  another  hour  repelling  another  attack 
at  the  landing,  altogether  making  six  hours  of  fighting.  In  addition, 
we  marched  fully  ten  miles,  advancing  and  retiring  through  entangled 
thickets;  killed,  wounded  and  captured  641  of  the  enemy;  captured 
his  entire  battery  and  carried  off  two  of  his  guns  and  spiked  the  others; 
burned  and  destroyed  his  camp;  defeated  and  utterly  routed,  first  Gen 
eral  Pillow's  3,500;  second  General  Cheatham  reinforced  to  about  6,000; 
and  in  the  third  conflict  at  the  landing  when  General  Polk  had  about 
8,000  men  on  the  Belmont  side  of  the  river,  forced  them  again  to  fall 
back. 

This  was  General  Grant's  first  battle  of  the  war,  and  for  the  num 
ber  engaged,  was  one  of  the  most  desperate,  brilliant  and  gallant. 

Our  regiment  had  a  brass  band  up  to  the  battle  of  Belmont,  but 
they  laid  down  their  instruments  and  went  into  the  fight,  some  were 
killed  and  others  wounded,  so  the  band  was  broken  up  and  never  re 
organized  after  that. 

It  has  always  been  a  question  to  the  troops  engaged  never  satis 
factorily  explained,  why  our  gun-boats  lying  near  by  in  the  river  al 
lowed  the  rebels  to  ferry  over  reinforcements  under  the  very  noses  of 
the  guns  in  their  portholes. 

The  subordinate  officers  and  men,  at  the  time  regarded  the  battle 
of  Belmont  as  a  blunder  and  po?r  generalship;  in  that  the  troops  were 
not  withdrawn  to  the  transports  before  fresh  rebel  troops  were  brought 
over  from  Columbus  and  placed  between  us  and  our  boats,  as  there  was 
plenty  of  time  to  do  it.  We  had  before  this  defeated  then  taken  their 
battery,  over  a  thousand  prisoners,  which  we  had  to  abandon  when  we 


18  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

were  obliged  to  cut  our  way  through  new  reinforcements  back  to  our 
boats.  General  Grant  was  generally  condemned  for  not  doing  so.  A 
saying  of  Napoliaon  was,  "any  one  can  lead  an  army  in  to  battle  but 
it  takes  a  good  General  to  get  them  out." 

A  NEWSPAPER  WAR  CORRESPONDENT'S  ACCOUNT. 

Iowa  poured  out  her  first  terrible  dole  of  loyal  blood  to  garnish 
the  sword  of  Grant.  A  skirmisher  of  Company  H,  of  the  Seventh  Iowa, 
named  John  C.  Temple,  was  the  first  man  killed  at  Belmont,  Grant's 
first  battle  for  the  Union.  A  band  of  400  young  and  enthusiastic  coun 
try  boys  from  the  extreme  northern  and  tne  extreme  southern  and  the 
central  tier  of  counties,  newly  wedded  into  a  regiment,  marched  be 
hind  the  man  of  destiny  to  that  field.  A  soldier's  burial  to  74  of  them, 
wounds  and  pain  to  127  and  captivity  or  an  unknown  fate  to  49  were 
the  awards  for  heroism  that  opened  a  new  page  in  martial  history. 

Belmont  was  a  remarkable  affair,  not  officially  dignified  as  a  bat 
tle — only  an  engagement.  The  Union  troops  engaged  had  not  before 
been  under  fire.  They  lost  in  killed  fully  one-half  as  many,  as  in  wound 
ed — an  unusually  large  proportion.  The  general  average  during  the 
war  was  one  killed  to  three  wounded.  Five  infantry  regiments  partici 
pated,  and  four  of  them  became  noted  throughout  the  war  as  fighting 
regiments,  and  are  included  in  the  300  whose  losses  in  battle  wore  ex 
cessive.  The  Seventh  Iowa — to  use  a  common  and  much  abusod  army 
expression — was  "literlly  cut  to  pieces."  The  proportion  of  killed  to 
wounded  was  over  1^  to  2. 

The  Confederate  post  at  Belmont  was  a  point  of  observation  for 
the  more  important  position  at  Columbus,  Ky.,  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  Mississippi.  It  consisted  of  a  camp  on  the  bluff  sunounded  by 
abatis  of  fallen  trees,  and  when  General  Grant  attacked  it  on  Nov.  7, 
1861,  was  manned  by  about  3,000  men,  with  six  cannon.  Grant  had  3,000 
men.  The  Seventh, Iowa  and  the  Twenty-S3cond  Illinois  forme:!  a  pro 
visional  semi-brigade  led  by  Colonel  H.  Dougherty  of  the  Twenty-sec 
ond.  The  Colonel  of  the  Seventh — J.  G.  Lauman — was  a  novice  in  war. 
The  iieuttenant  colonel  had  served  in  a  3-months'  regiment,  and  the 
major — Elliot  W.  Rice — had  just  been  promoted  from  the  ranks  of  Com 
pany  C. 

The  little  army  sailed  from  Cairo  on  transports  to  a  landing 
about  three  miles  above  Belmont  and  got  ashore  withont  alarm  to  the 
enemy.  After  marching  a  mile  through  a  wooded  swamp  the  column 
reached  a  cornfield,  and  the  companies  of  the  Seventh  deployed  os  skir 
mishers  and  dodged  among  the  tall  cornstafRs  to  the  farther  end  of 
the  field.  A  company  of  Confederates  were  secreted  in  a  wood  beyond 
the  field  and  fired  a  few  shots  at  the  lowans,  killing  one  man. 

A  line  of  battle  was  formed  in  the  field,  and  the  whole  command 
moved' on  through  the  woods.  The  fighting  was  steady  and  continuous 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  19 

from  that  point  forward.  The  way  was  obstructed  by  heavy  underbrush 
and  fallen  trees,  and  the  men  had  to  climb  over  and  crawl  under  the  ob 
stacles  as  best  they  could,  the  while  keeping  a  lookout  for  the  enemy. 
In  places  the  ground  was  swampy,  and  between  fighting,  finding  a  road 
and  waiting  for  the  cannon  to  be  dragged  along  with  column,  the 
march  was  far  from  easy. 

The  delay  gave  the  enemy  time  to  select  positions  and  get  in  good 
shots.  At  the  end  of  a  mile  the  whole  line  was  held  up  by  a  new  obsta 
cle — a  sort  of  a  secondary  river  bank  that  formed  a  good  natural  breast 
work  for  the  Confederates.  Grant's  column  had  also  got  within  range 
of  the  fieldpieces  at  Belmont  and  of  the  heavy  guns  at  Columtus,  and 
shot  and  shell  tore  through  the  forest,  giving  the  farm  boys  a  taste  of 
real  war.  The  Confederate  riflemen  were  favored  with  picked  shots, 
and  officers  and  men  began  to  fall  rapidly.  The  mounted  men  were 
the  chosen  targets  of  the  enemy,  and  several  staff  officers  were  un 
horsed.  Grant's  horse  was  shot  under  him. 

The  plan  of  attack  was  to  keep  the  left  flank  near  the  river  to  pre 
vent  reinforcements  crossing  over  from  Columbus  to  Belmont,  and  by 
spreading  out  the  line  partially  surround  the  camp.  A  united  effort 
in  the  nature  of  a  charge,  but  prevented  from  being  one  by  the  rough 
ness  of  trie  ground,  drove  the  enemy  from  his  embankment  through  the 
woods  to  an  open  space  around  the  camp.  When  the  excited  poldiers 
saw  the  defiant  flag  waving  over  the  guns  and  the  Confederates  running 
back  across  the  fields,  their  enthusiasm  knew  no  bounds. 

The  spreading  of  the  line  created  a  gap  in  the  ranks  opposite  the 
enemy's  battery.  The  Seventh  Iowa  rushed  into  the  space,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  drove  the  gunners  from  their  pieces  by  a  hot  fire  of  bullets. 
A  dashing  charge  by  the  whole  line  precipitated  a  stampede  in  the 
enemy's  ranks,  and  Grant's  men  swarmed  around  the  flagpole,  cannon 
and  tents  like  bees  around  an  overturned  hive.  It  was  their  first  vic 
tory  and  their  first  seizure  of  spoils  of  war.  Officers  and  soldiers  alike 
jumped  upon  the  gun  carriages  and  platforms  and  delivered  flowery 
speeches  to  their  comrades  who  cheered  themselves  hoarse  and  the 
battle  was  soon  turned  into  a  Fourth  of  July  orgy  of  bubbling  elo 
quence. 

The  Confederates  had  not  abandoned  the  Missouri  bank,  but  had 
simply  dropped  down  under  the  bluff  out  ot  range.  No  one  demanded 
their  surrender,  tor  the  victors  seemed  to  think  that  the  position,  the 
armament  of  the  camp  were  the  sole  objective  of  the  campaign. 

The  guns  at  Columbus  attempted  to  fire  upon  the  mob  of  invaders 
at  Belmont,  but  their  shells  passed  over.  The  boys  laughed  at  that, 
but  changed  their  tune  when  their  enimies  under  the  bluff  climbed  the 
trees  and  commenced  good  target  practice  upon  the  camp. 

Colonel   Lauman   was   shot   through   the   thigh,   and   about  that 


20  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

time  Colonel  Dougherty  discovered  some  steamers  loaded  with  troops 
making  for  the  shore  above  Belmont.  They  were  Confederates,  maneu 
vering  to  get  between  Grant's  column  and  the  landing.  The  lowans 
placed  their  wounded  leader  upon  a  gun  carriage  and  started  to  retreat. 
The  moment  they  entered  the  woods  ihey  were  struck  by  an  enflading 
fire  from  the  river  bank.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Wentz  was  killed,  Major 
Rice  severely  wounded,  and  several  company  officers  fell.  From  that 
time  on  until  the  transports  were  reached  the  march  was  one  contin 
uous  brush  fight. 

»  The  Confederates  were  at  home  on  the  ground  and  lined  the  edges 
of  the  field  and  openings  pouring  their  fire  into  the  column  at  every 
step.  Grant's  soldiers  were  nearly  exhausted  T>y  the  unusual  excitement 
they  had  passed  through  and  the  labors  01  the  march  and  attack,  but 
they  coolly  and  deliberately  fought  their  way  to  the  landing.  The 
lowans  lost  227,  over  half  their  number.  Some  of  the  prisoners  lost 
were  wounded,  and  many  of  the  missing  lay  dead  in  the  swamp..  Every 
field  officer  was  down,  and  three  lieutenants  were  killed  and  four  cap 
tains  wounded 

The  other  troops  at  Belmont  were  Illinoisans — the  Twenty-sec 
ond,  Twenty-seventh,  Thirtieth  and  Thirty-first  infantry,  Taylcr's  Chi 
cago  battery  and  Dollin's  and  Delano  s  Illinois  cavalry.  Grant,  General 
McClernand,  commanding  the  First  brigade,  and  Colonel  Dougherty, 
Second  brigade,  were  from  Illinois.  Colonel  Logan  commanded  one 
regiment. 

The  first  case  on  record,  I  think,  in  the  war  of  a  soldier  killed 
in  battle  retaining  a  lifelike  position  in  death  was  at  Shiloh.  It  was 
reported  by  Dr.  Brinton,  Grant's  medical  director,  who  saw  and  ex 
amined  the  body.  It  was  that  of  a  Union  soldier  shot  through  the  fore 
head  while  kneeling  to  fire  from  behind  a  tree.  His  head  fell  forward 
against  a  tree,  but  his  upright  body  rested  on  one  foot  and  knee,  and  he 
held  his  musket  in  firm  grasp  and  remained  in  position  until  removed. 

The  next  fight  of  the  Seventh  was  at  Donaldson,  where  it  charged 
the  entrenchments,  but  got  o.ut  with,  slight  loss.  On  the  field  of  Shiloh 
the  regiment  was  in  Colonel  Tuttle's  Iowa  brigade,  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's 
reserve  division.  When  the  attack  began  at  the  outposts,  the  mo?i  were 
in  line  for  Sunday  morning  inspection.  They  promptly  marched  for 
ward  to  a  piece  of  heavy  timber  on  the  edg:  of  a  field  across  which  the 
enemy's  line  of  battle  was  advancing.  The  position  was  held  for  nine 
hours,  all  the  time  under  a  galling  fire  of  canister,  grape  and  shell. 
The  loss  was  not  severe,  but  again  the  number  killed  was  large  in  com 
parison  with  the  wounded.  It  stood  10  to  17." 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  21 


CHAPTER    III. 
INCIDENTS  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  BELMONT. 

A  correspondent,  giving  an  account  of  the  burial  of  the  Union 
dead  upon  the  field  of  battle  of  Belmont,  by  a  party  which  returned, 
after  the  battle,  with  a  flag  of  truce,  relates  the  following  incidents: 

"Our  dead  were  mostly  lying  upon  their  backs,  and  everything 
taken  from  their  bodies  that  could  be  of  value  to  the  enemy.  The 
countenances  of  the  dead  were  mostly  expressive  of  rage.  One  or  two 
features  were  expressive  of  lear.  One  poor  fellow,  after  he  was  wound 
ed,  bethought  himself  to  smoke.  He  was  found  in  a  sitting  position, 
against  a  tree,  dead,  with  his  pipe  in  his  nand,  his  knife  in  the  other, 
and  his  tobacco  on  his  breast. 

"A  young  lad  about  sixteen  was  found  lying  across  a  log,  just  as 
he  fell,  grasping  his  musket  with  both  hands. 

"A  wounded  man,  with  both  legs  nearly  shot  off,  was  found  in 
the  woods,  singing  the  Star-spangled  Banner;  but  for  this  circumstance 
the  surgeons  say  they  would  not  have  discovered  him. 

"A  Captain  of  one  of  the  regiments  was  looking  at  the  prisoners 
captured  at  Belmont,  and  recognized  one  as  his  own  brother. 

BELMONT  AFTER  THE  FIGHT. 

John  Seaton,  Captain  of  company  "B,"  in  the  Twenty-second  Il 
linois  regiment,  relates  tne  following  incidents: 

"The  day  after  the  battle,  Col.  Hart  was  in  command  of  the  party 
that  went  down  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  bury  the  dead,  and  take  up  the 
wounded  that  still  lay  on  the  battle-field.  Of  my  company,  there  were 
Lieut.  Morgan,  Corporal  B.  B.  Gould,  privates  T.  C.  Young,  J.  \V. 
Young,  and  Phil.  Sackett,  They  relate  some  very  affecting  scenes  they 
witnessed  upon  the  battle-field,  one  of  which  was  the  finding  of  the 
body  of  Lieut.  Col.  Wentz  by  his  wife.  There  lay  the  corpse  on  that 
blood-stained  field,  ghastly  in  the  embrace  of  death.  She  stands  gazing 
at  it  fixidly,  and  motionless  as  though  rooted  to  the  spot;  presently 
her  eyes  nil  with  tears,  and  she  breaks  out  in  a  low,  agonizing  cry: 
'Poor — poor — soul — is  it  gone?'  and  falls  prostrate  upon  his  body.  Then 
it  was  that  stout  and  hard-featured  men  wept.  Every  rebel  officer  took 
out  his  pocket  handkerchief  to  wipe  away  the  tears  that  came  trickling 
down  their  cheeks.  One  of  them  remarked,  I'd  give  ten  thousand  dol 
lars  to  recall  that  man  10  life."  And  the  boys'  say  they  believe  he 
meant  it.  They  found  many  poor  fellows  badly  wounded"  that  had 'lain 
there  since  the  battle.  The  rebels  had  been  around  during  the  night 


22  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

and  given  them  water,  and  other  necessaries,  and  had  taken  a  great 
many  into  the  hospitals. 

"I  believe  we  did  meet  the  flower  ot  the  Southern  army,  for  they 
fought  bravely,  and  their  arms  were  all  superior  to  ours.  Every  piece 
I  saw  was  rifled,  and  had  all  the  latest  improvements;  and  there  were 
a  great  many  Sharp's  six-shooting  rifles.  Their  officers'  uniforms  were 
splendid  and  gorgeous,  but  the  mens'  clothes  were  nearly  all  of  a 
brownisn  gray,  coarse,  home-spun  jeans.  In  the  early  part  of  the  fight 
two  men  of  Company  C  brought  a  long,  lean  prisoner  to  me.  He  was 
about  six  feet  two  inches,  and  belonged  to  the  Second  Tennessee  regi 
ment.  He  was  very  much  scared.  I  asked  him  how  many  men  we  were 
fighting;  he  raised  his  hands  above  his  head,  and  spoke  in  that  pecu 
liar  style  so  much  in  vague  in  the  rural  districts  of  Slave  States,  where 
they  see  so  much  of  the  'nigger.'  'To  God,  stranger,  I  can't  tell;  this 
ground  was  jist  kivered  with  men  this  mornin';  swar  me  in,  stranger;^ 
I'll  take  the  oath  right  now;  I'll  fight  for  you;  only  please  don't  kill 
me."  I  told  him  he  should  not  be  hurt,  if  he  behaved  himself,  and  tied 
him,  commanding  him  to  lie  down  and  remain  there  till  I  came  back, 
and  then  left  him.  I  saw  him  no  more  tnat  day,  but  some  one  else 
brought  him  along  before  night. 

The  following  incident  connected  with  this  battle  illustrates  the 
chances  and  experiences  of  war:  Immediately  before  the  war,  Philip 
Fouke  was  in  Washington  as  a  member  of  congress  from  Illinois,  John 
V.  Wright  was  a  congressman  from  Tennessee.  Fouke  and  Wright 
were  both  Democrats,  and  though  fast  friends  both  politically  and 
socially,  they  differed  with  respests  to  the  question  of  secession.  When 
they  parted  at  Washington  Wright  shook  Fouke's  hand  remarking: 
"I  expect  the  next  time  we  meet,  Phil,  it  will  be  on  the  battle-field." 
It  happened  so.  Fouke  commanded  the  30th  111.  which  confronted  the 
13th  Tennessee  commanded  by  Col.  Wright  at  Belmont.  Wright  was 
mortally  wounded  and  60  of  his  regiment  were  captured  by  the  30th. 

BELMONTER. 

OFFICIAL   REPORT. 

"On  the  eveningof  the  6th  I  left  this  place  in  steamers  with  Mc- 
Clernand's  Brigade,  consisting  of  Twenty-seventh  Regiment  Illinois 
Volunteers,  Col.  N.  B.  Buford;  Thirtieth  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers, 
Col.  Philip  B.  Fouke;  Thirty-first  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  Col. 
John  A.  Logan;  Dollins'  Company  Independent  Illinois  Cavalry,  Capt. 
J.  J.  Dollins;  Delano's  Company  Adams  County  Illinois  Cavalry,  Lieut. 
J.  K.  Catlin;  and  Dougherty's  Brigade,  consisting  of  Twenty-second 
Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  Lieut.  Col.  H.  E.  Hart;  Seventh  Regi 
ment  Iowa  Volunteers,  Col.  J.  G.  Lauman,  amounting  to  3,114  men 
ol  all  arms,  to  make  the  demonstration  against  Columbus.  I  proceeded 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  23 

down  the  river  to  a  point  9  miles  below  here,  where  we  lay  until  next 
morning,  on  the  Kentucky  shore,  which  served  lo  distract  the  enemy 
and  led  him  to  suppose  that  he  was  to  be  attacked  in  his  strongly  for 
tified  position  at  Columbus. 

About  2  o'clock  on  tne  morning  of  the  7th  I  received  information 
from  Col.  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  at  Charleston  (sent  by  a  messenger  on 
steamer  W.  H.  B.)  that  he  had  learned  from  a  reliable  Union  man  that 
the  enemy  had  been  crossing  troops  from  Columbus  to  Belmont  the  day 
before,  for  the  purpose  of  following  after  and  cutting  off  the  forces  un 
der  Colonel  Oglesby.  Such  a  move  on  his  part  seemed  to  me  more  than 
probable,  and  gave  at  once  a  twofold  importance  to  my  demonstration 
against  the  enemy — namely,the  prevention  of  reinforcements  to  General 
Pric  e  and  the  cutting  off  of  the  two  small  columns  that  I  had  sent,  in 
pursuance  of  directions,  from  this  place  and  Cape  Girardeau,  in  pursuit 
of  Jeff.  Thompson.  This  information  determined  me  to  attack  vigor 
ously  his  forces  at  Belmont,  knowing  that  should  we  be  repulsed,  we 
would  re-embark  without  difficulty  under  the  protection  of  the  gun 
boats.  The  following  order  was  given: 

ON  BOARD  STEAMER  BELLE  MEMPHIS, 

November  7,  1861 — 2  o'clock  a.  m. 

The  troops  composing  the  present  expedition  from  this  place  will 
move  promptly  at  6  o'clock  this  morning.  The  gunboats  will  take  the 
advance,  and  be  followed  by  the  First  Brigade,  under  command  of  Brig. 
Gen.  John  A.  McClernand,  composed  of  all  the  troops  from  Cairo  and 
Fort  Holt.  The  Second  Brigade,  comprising  tne  remainder  of  the  troops 
of  the  expedition,  commanded  by  Col.  Henry  Dougherty,  will  follow. 
The  entire  force  will  debark  at  the  lowest  point  on  the  Missouri  shore 
where  a  landing  can  be  effected  in  security  from  the  rebel  batteries. 
The  point  of  debarkation  will  be  designated  by  Captain  Walke,  com 
manding  naval  forces. 

?  JOHN  A.  RAWLINS. 

Assistant   Adjutant-General. 

Promptly  at  the  hour  designated  we  proceeded  down  the  river  to 
a  point  just  out  of  range  of  the  rebel  bateries  at  Columbus  and  debarked 
on  the  Missouri  shore.  From  there  the  troops  were  marched,  with  skir 
mishers  well  in  advance,  by  flank  for  about  a  mile  towards  Belmont, 
and  there  formed  in  line  of  battle.  One  battalion  had  been  left  as  a  re 
serve  near  the  transports.  Two  companies  from  each  regiment  were 
thrown  forward  as  skirmishers,  to  ascertain  the  position  of  the  enemy, 
and  about  nine  o'clock  met  and  engaged  him.  The  balance  of  my  force, 
with  the  exception  of  the  reserve,  was  promptly  thrown  forward,  and 
drove  the  enemy  foot  by  foot,  and  from  tree  to  tree,  back  to  his  encamp 
ment  to  the  river  bank,  a  distance  of  over  two  miles.  Here  he  had, 


24:  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

strengthened  -his  position  by  felling  the  timber  for  several  hundred 
yards  around  his  camp,  making  a  sort  of  abatis.  Our  men  charged 
through  this,  driving  the  enemy  under  cover  of  the  bank,  and  many  of 
them  into  their  transports,  in  quick  time,  leaving  us  in  possession  of 
everything  not  exceedingly  portable. 

Belmont  is  situated  on  low  ground,. and  every  foot  is  commanded 
by  the  guns  on  the  opposite  shore  and  of  course  could  not  be  held  for  a 
single  hour  after  the  enemy  became  aware  of  the  withdrawal  of  his 
troops.  Having  no  wagons  with  me,  I  could  move  but  little  of  the*cap- 
tured  property,  consequently  gave  orders  for  the  destruction  of  every 
thing  that  could  not  be  moved  and  an  immediate  return  to  our  trans 
ports.  Tents,  blankete,  &c.,  were  set  on  fire  ond  destroyed,  and  our  re 
turn  march  commenced,  taking  his  artillery  and  a  large  number  of  cap 
tured  horses  and  prisoners  with  us.  Three  pieces  of  artillery  being 
drawn  by  hand,  and  one  by  an  inefficient  team,  were  spiked  and  left  on 
the  road;  two  were  brought  to  this  place. 

We  had  but  fairly  got  under  way  when  the  enemy,  having  receiv 
ed  re-inforcements,  rallied  under  cover  of  the  river  bank  and  the  woods 
on  the  point  of  land  in  the  river  bend  of  the  river  above  us,  and  made 
his  appearance  between  us  and  our  transports,  evidently  with  a  design 
of  cutting  off  our  return  to  them. 

Our  troops  were  not  in  the  least  discouraged,  but  charged  the 
enemy  and  again  defeated  him.  We  then,  with  the  exception  of  the 
Twenty-seventh  Illinois,  Col.  N.  B.  Buford  commanding,  reached  our 
transports  and  embarked  without  further  molestation.  While  waiting 
for  the  arrival  of  this  regiment,  and  to  get  some  of  our  wounded  from  a 
field  hospital  near  by,  the  enemy  having  crossed  fresh  troops  from 
Columbus,  again  made  his  appearance  on  the  river  bank,  and  commenc 
ed  firing  on  our  transports.  The  fire  was  returned  by  our  men  from  the 
decks  of  the  steamers,  and  also  by  the  gunboats  with  terrible  effect, 
compelling  him  to  retire  in  the  direction  of  Belmont.  In  the  mean  time 
Colonel  Buford,  although  he  had  received  orders  to  return  with  the 
main  force,  took  the  Charleston  road  from  Belmont,  and  came  in  on  the 
road  leading  to  Bird's  Point,  where  he  had  formed  a  line  of  battle  in 
the  morning.  At  this  point,  to  avoid  the  effect  of  the  shells  from  the 
gunboats  that  were  begining  to  fall  among  his  men,  he  took  a  blind 
path  direct  to  the  river,  and. followed  a  wood  road  up  its  bank,  and 
thereby  avoided  meeting  the  enemy,  who  were  retiring  by  the  main 
road.  On  his  appearance  on  the  river  bank  a  steamer  was  dropped 
down,  and  took  his  command  on  board,  without  his  having  participated 
or  lost  a  man  in  the  enemy's  attempt  to  cut  us  off  from  our  transports. 

Notwithstanding  the  crowded  state  of  our  transports,the  only  loss 
we  sustained  from  the  enemy's  fire  upon  them  was  three  men  wounded, 
one  of  whom  belonged  to  cne  of  the  boats. 


COL.  H.  DOUGHERTY,  22o  ILLS., 

who  commanded  the  brigade  at  the  battle  of  Belmont. 
Wounded  in  three  places,  losing  a  leg. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  25 

Our  loss  in  kiied  on  the  field  was  85,  301  wounded  (many  of  them, 
however,  slightly),  and  99  missing.  Of  the  wounded,  125  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  Nearly  all  the  missing  were  from  the  Seventh 
Iowa  Regiment,  which  suffered  more  severely  than  any  other.  All  the 
troops  behaved  with  great  gallantry,  which  was  in  a  great  degree  attrib 
utable  to  the  coolness  ana  presence  of  mind  of  their  officers,  particu 
larly  the  colonels  commanding. 

General  McClernand  was  in  the  midst  of  danger  throughout  the 
engagement,  and  displayed  both  coolness  and  judgment.  His  horse  was 
three  times  shot  under  him.  • 

Colonel  Dougherty,  Twenty-second  Illinois  Vounteers,  command 
ing  the  Second  Brigade,  by  his  coolness  and  bravery  entitles  himself  to 
be  named  among  the  most  competent  of  officers  for  command  of  troops 
in  battle.  In  our  second  engagement  he  was  three  times  wounded,  and 
fell  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

Among  the  killed  was  Lieut.  Col.  A.  Wentz,  Seventh  Iowa  Volun 
teers,  and  among  the  wounded  were  Col.  J.  G.  Lauman  and  Maj.  E.  W. 
Rice,  of  the  Seventh  Iowa. 

The  reports  of  sub  commanders  will  detail  more  fully  particulars 
of  the  engagement,  and  the  conduct  of  both  officers  and  men. 

To  my  staff,  Capt.  John  A.  Rawlins,  assistant  adjutant-general; 
Liems.  C.  B.  Lagow  and  William  S.  Hillyer,  aides-de-camp,  and  Capt. 
R.  B.  Hatch,  assistant  quartermaster,  I  am  much  indebted  for  the 
promptitude  with  which  they  discharged  their  several  duties. 

Surg.  J.  H.  Brinlon,  U.  S.  volunteers,  chief  medical  officer,  was  on 
the  field  during  the  entire  engagement,  and  displayed  great  ability  and 
efficiency  in  caring  for  the  wounded,  and  in  organizing  the  medical 
corps. 

Maj.  J.  D.  Webster,  acting  chief  engineer,  also  accompanied  me 
on  the  field,  and  displayed  soldierly  qualities  of  a  high  order. 

My  own  horse  was  shol  under  me  during  the  engagement. 

The  gunboats  Tyler,  Capt.  Walke,  and  Lexington,  Capt.  Stem- 
bel,  convoyed  the  expedition,  and  rendered  most  efficient  service.  Im 
mediately  upon  our  landing  they  engaged  the  enemy's  batteries  on  the 
heights  above  Columbus,  arid  protected  our  transports  throughout.  For 
a  detailed  acount  of  the  part  taken  by  them  I  refer  with  pleasure  to 
the  accompanying  report  of  Capt.  Walke,  senior  (No.  3). 

In  pursuance  of  my  request,  General  Smith,commanding  at  Padu- 
cah,  sent  on  the  7th  insiant  a  force  to  Mayfield,  Ky.,  and  another  in  the 
direction  of  Columbus,  with  orders  not  to  approach  nearer,  however, 
than  12  or  15  miles  of  that  place.  1  plso  sent  a  small  force  on  the  Ken 
tucky  side  towards  Columbus,  under  Col.  John  Cook,  Seventh  Illinois 
Volunteers,  with  orders  not  to  go  beyona  Elliott's  Mills,  distant  some  12 
miles  from  Columbus.  These  forces  having  marched  to  the  points  desig- 


26  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA    ' 

natecl  in  their  orders,  returned  without  having  met  serious  resistance. 

On  the  evening  of  the  7th  Jafoi nation  of  the  result  of  the  engage 
ment  at  Belmont  was  sent  to  Colonel  Oglesby  commanding  expedition 
against  Jeff.  Thompson  and  orders  to  return  to  Bird's  Point  by  way  of 
Chariostown,  Mo.  Before  these  reached  him,  however,  he  had  learned 
that  Jelf. Thompson  had  left  the  place  where  he  was  reported  to  be  when 
the  expedition  started  (he  having  gone  towards  New  Madrid  or  Arkan 
sas)  and  had  determined  to  return.  The  same  information  was  sent  to 
the  commanding  oficer  at  Cape  Gii&rdeau  with  directions  for  the 
troops  to  I  e  brought  hack  that  had  gone  out  from  that  place. 

From  all  the  information  1  have  been  able  to  obtain  since  the  en 
gagement,  the  enemy's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  much  greater 
than  ours.  We  captured  175  prisoners,  all  his  artillery  and  transporta 
tion,  and  destroyed  his  entire  camp  and  garrison  equipage.  Independ 
ent  of  the  injuries  inflicted  upon  In  11  and  the  prevention  of  his  re-en 
forcing  Price  or  sending  a  force  to  cut  oft  the  expeditions  against  Jeff. 
Thompson  the  confidence  inspired  in  our  troops  in  the  engagement  will 
be  of  incalculable  benefit  to  u.s  in  the  future. 

Very  respectfully  your  cbetfient  servant, 

U.  S.  GRANT, 

Brigadier-General. 
Brig.  Gen.  FE1H  WILLIAMS, 

Assistant  Adjutant-General,  Washington,  D.  C. 

REPORT  OF  COMMANDER  HENRY  WALKE,  U.  S.  NAVY. 

U.  S.  GUNBOAT  TYLER, 
Mound  City,  November  9,  1861. 

GENERAL:  Agreeably  to  your  instructions,  I  proceeded  on  the 
evening  of  the  6th,  in  company  with  the  U.  S.  gunboat  Lexington,  un 
der  Commander  Stembel,  down  the  Mississippi,  convoying  a  number  of 
transport  steamers  as  far  as  opposite  Norfolk  and  near  the  Kentucky 
shore,  where  we  all  anchored  .for  the  night.  At  3  o'clock  the  following 
morning  the  gunboats  Tyler  and  Lexington  proceeded  down  the  river 
with  the  intention  of  engaging  the  enemy  at  Iron  Banks  but  after  run 
ning  a  short  distance  we  were  met  by  such  a  dense  fog  as  to  render  any 
further  progress  hazardous  and  unfeasible.  We  therefore  rounded  to, 
and  returned  to  the  point  from  whence  we  started.  I  received  your 
special  order,  and  at  6  o'clock  we  all  started,  the  gunboats  taking 
the  lead.  We  proceeded  to  the  extreme  end  of  Lucas  Bend,  where  I 
supposed  we  were  out  of  the  range  of  their  guns.  After  our  troops  were 
disembarked  and  under  marching  orders  about  8:30  o'clock,  the  two 
gunboats  proceeded  to  engage  the  batteries  on  Iron  Banks.  We  each 
expended  several  rounds  of  shell  with  seemingly  good  effect,  but  their 
balls  from  the  rifled  cannon  flew  by  and  over  us  to  a  great  extent,  some 
of  the  shot  going  half  a  mile  beyond  the  transports.  Fortunately,  how- 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  27 

ever,  they  did  us  no  damage,  and  we  returned  to  the  transports,  where 
they  kept  firing  at  us  for  a  considerable  length  of  time.  I  finally  re 
quested  the  captains  of  the  transports  to  move  above  and  out  of  the 
range  of  their  guns,  which  subsequently  they  did,  we  ourselves  doing 
likewise. 

At  10  o'clock,  hearing  the  battle  at  Belmont,  our  two  boats  again 
proceeded  down  to  engage  their  batteries,  this  time  expending  more 
shell  and  receiving  no  injury.  After  an  engagement  of  about  twenty 
minutes  in  the  meantime  the  shots  flying  thickly  about  us  we  again 
returned  to  the  transports,  continuing  our  fire  as  long  as  our  shells 
reached  them. 

At  noon,  hearing  the  continued  firing  at  Belmont,  the  two  gunboats 
made  their  third  attack  upon  the  enemy's  batteries,  this  time  going 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  nearer.  We  opened  a  brisk  fire  of  shell, 
directing  many  of  them  to  the  enemy's  camp  at  Belmont,  their  rifled 
balls  still  passing  beyond  and  around  us,  but  one  of  their  24  pounders 
struck  us  on  the  starboard  bulwarks,  continuing  obliquely  through  the 
spar  deck,  and  in  its  course  taking  off  the  head  of  one  man  injuring 
two  others,  one  quite  seriously. 

After  firing  a  few  more  rounds  we  returned,  keeping  up  our  fire 
from  the  stern  guns  till  out  of  reach.  It  is  truly  miraculous  that  we 
have  in  all  our  engagements  escaped  with  so  little  damage.  After 
nearly  all  the  troops  had  re-embarked  and  were  about  ready  to  start,  a 
sudden  attack  was  made  upon  the  transport  vessels  by  an  apparently 
large  re-enforcements  of  the  rebels.  Our  boats  being  in  good  position, 
we  opened  fire  with  our  grape,  canister,  and  5-second  shells,  and  com 
pletely  routed  them — we  learn  with  great  slaughter.  After  silencing 
the  enemy,  we  continued  our  fire  with  the  broadside  guns,  throwing 
shell  on  the  banks  ahead  with  the  bow  gun  to  protect  the  transports, 
and  throwing  shell  from  the  stern  gun  upon  the  enemy's  ground  so 
long  as  we  were  in  reach. 

After  passing  a  few  miles  up  the  river  we  met  the  Chancellor, 
with  Brigadier-General  McClernand  on  board,  who  stated  that  some  of 
their  troops  had  been  left  behind,  and  by  his  direction  both  gunboats 
returned  some  distance,  picking  up  between  us  all  there  to  be  seen,  to 
gether  with  a  large  number  of  prisoners,  some  wounded  and  sick. 
Every  attention  was  paid  to  alleviate  the  sufferings  of  the  wounded, 
Acting  Surgeons  Kearney  and  Goddard  dresing  their  wounds,  and 
the  crew  of  the  ships  furnishing  them  with  their  own  hammocks  and 
bedding.  We  then  returned  to  Island  No.  1;  met  the  Rob  Roy,  with 
instructions  from  you;  turned  over  to  her  all  our  soldiers  and  prisoners, 
and  remained  there  till  an  hour  after  Colonel  Cook's  return  from  a 
reconnaissance  down  the  Kentucky  side.  We  then  weighed  anchor  and 
proceeded  to  Cairo.  Commander  Stembel,  with  the  Lexington  as  con- 


28  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

sort,  supportd  me  in  all  the  duties  of  the  day  with  most  commendable 
energy  and  in  a  most  effective  manner. 

Most  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

H.    WALKE, 
Commander,  U.  S.  Navy. 
BRIG.   GEN.  U.   S.   GRANT, 

Commanding  District  Southeast  Missouri. 

LIEUT.   COL.   WENTZ  AT  BELMON/T. 

My  recollection  of  this  officer  covers  but  a  short  time.  He  was 
a  German  and  universally  beloved  and  admired.  There  was  in 
camp  at  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Belmont  a  number  of  the  wives  of 
officers  Col.  Wentz'  among  them.  They  saw  their  husbands  off  the 
evening  before  as  they  embarked  on  the  steamers  and  turned  their 
heads  down  stream  towards  the  enemy.  The  emotions  of  that  hour' 
who  may  tell?  The  trial  was  only  one  of  many  thousands  repeated 
again  and  again  all  over  the  land  in  that  awful  four  years  horror. 

The  morning  of  the  battle  as  we  had  moved  close  up  to  the  skirm 
ish  line  and  heard  the  brisk  fire  of  the  skirmishes  and  saw  now  and  then 
one  of  them  being  brought  to  the  rear  all  covered  with  their  blood  it 
seemed  a  very  trying  moment.  Col.  Wentz  came  riding  along  slowly 
laughing  and  talking  to  the  men  and  telling  them  how  badly  scared 
the  enemy  were  thus  breaking  the  force  of  that  sickening  sight.  No 
doubt  this  helped  many  a  poor  fellow  to  stand  up  and  do  his  duty 
creditably  that  day. 

After  going  through  the  main  battle  and  as  the  regiment  was  mov 
ing  off  the  field  and  n earing  the  timber  on  the  west,  while  I  was 
momentarily  back  with  Co.  "B,"  Major,  afterwards  Gen.  E.  W.  Rice, 
rode  up  and  told  us  that  Col.  Wentz  was  wounded  and  had  fallen 
from  his  horse  then  a  little  ways  to  rear  and  ordered  four  of  us  to  go 
back  and  bring  him  off  the  field;  we  went  and  found  him,  picked  him 
up  and  carried  him  a  ways  until  he  requested  us  to  lay  him  down.  He 
felt  he  could  go  no  further.  We  laid  him  down  in  the  shelter  of  a 
large  high  stump.  We  ministered  to  him  there  as  best  we  could 
giving  him  water  and  in  trying  to  loosen  his  clothing  could  not  get  his 
sword  belt  undone  and  had  to  cut  it  to  get  it  off. 

As  he  could  not  bear  10  be  carried  further  and  was  fast  sinking  a 
hurried  consultation  was  held.  We  were  in  extreme  danger  of  being 
captured  as  our  forces  had  gone.  The  spot  was  swept  by  the  batteries 
from  Columbus  and  they  were  using  them, several  shots  striking  close 
to  us  and  no  telling  how  soon  the  infantry  would  be  upon  us.  It  was 
said  he  is  good  as  dead  and  we  had  better  save  ourselves  from  being 
captured. 

So  two  of  the  four  started  to  catch  the  regiment  and  in  a  short 
time  the 'third  man  thought  it  right  for  him  to  go  too.  I  gave  the  Col.'s 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  29 

revolver  to  him  and  told  him  if  possible  to  take  that  back  to  the  Coh's 
wife. 

The  end  soon  came  as  he  sank  rapidly.  He  had  requested  me  to 
stay  with  him  and  now  having  done  all  I  could  I  gathered  up  his  sword 
and  struck  out  after  the  command  afoot  and  alone;  caught  up  after 
awhile  with  the  27th  Ills.,  and  came  off  with  them  and  back  up  the  river 
on  one  of  the  gun  boats  to  Cairo  and  over  to  our  camp  at  Bird's  Foint 
about  2:00  o'clock  at  night.  Next  morning  reported  my  experience  to 
company  headquarters  and  turned  over  the  sword  to  Mrs.  Wentz  and 
received  her  thanks  and  some  personal  effects  of  the  Col's  for  keep 
sakes.  Here  let  me  explain  another  matter.  The  question  was  asked 
why  did  you  not  also  take  his  watch  and  other  valuables?  I  was  young 
and  the  experience  was  new  and  terribly  exciting.  The  thought  of  tak 
ing  those  things  back  to  his  wife  came  to  me,  but  the  thought  of  poing 
into  thn  dead  'man's  pocket  was  repugnant  to  me,  and  should  I  be 
wounded,  killed  or  captured  with  those  things  found  in  my  possession 
with  the  possibility  of  my  motives  in  taking  them  being  misconstrued 
was  just  terrible.  So  I  took  only  his  sword  thinking  his  family  would 
prize  that  more  than  anything  else. 

I  think  it  only  a  just  portrayal  of  the  temper  of  those  times  to 
state  that  when  in  a  day  or  two,  under  a  flag  of  truce,  some  of  our  army 
went  back  to  bury  the  dead  they  found  Col.  Wentz  where  we  laid  him 
down  but  his  body  had  been  stripped  of  his  clothing  down  to  his  un 
derwear  and  everything  of  value  on  his  person  taken.  It  may  be  well 
for  the  coming  generations  to  know  that  the  pure  hellishness  of  our 
enemies  at  that  time  seemed  but  one  remove  in  atrocity  above  a  black- 
foot  Indian. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

SERGT.  J.  C.  PERCY, 

Co.  E,  7th  Iowa  Infty. 
CONFEDERATE  REPORT. 
HD.QRS.    FIRST    DIV.,    WESTERN    DEPARTMENT, 

Columbus,  Ky.,  November  10,  1861. 

I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  operations 
of  the  army  under  my  command  in  the  battle  of  Belmont  the  7th  inst: 

From  information  received  from  several  sources  I  had  reason  to 
believe  it  was  the  intention  of  the  enemy  to  attack  my  position  at  this 
place  at  an  early  day,  provision  to  meet  which  was  made  accordingly. 
Between  2  and  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  a  courier  arrived  at 
my  headquarters,  Informing  me  of  the  movement  of  a  strong  force  de 
signed  to  attack  General  Thompson's  position  at  Bloomfleld  and  New 
Madrid.  When,  therefore,  I  was  informed  shortly  after  daybreak, 
through  a  member  of  my  staff,  that  the  enemy  had  made  his  appear 
ance  in  the  river  with  gunboats  and  transports,  and  was  landing  a  con- 


30  HISTORY   OP    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

siderable  force  on  the  Missouri  shore,  5  or  6  miles  from  Belmont,  I 
became  satisfied  it  was  his  intention  to  make  the  attack  general.  I 
dispatched  immediately  messengers  to  the  general  officers  of  division 
to  inform  them  of  my  impressions  and  the  position  of  affairs,  with 
instructions  to  make  such  disposition  of  their  commands  as  the  emer 
gency  required. 

The  same  information  was  conveyed  to  Colonel  Tappen,  who  was 
in  command  of  the  force  at  Belmont.  To  General  Pillow,  whose  division 
was  nearest  the  point  immediately  threatened,  I  gave  orders  in  person 
to  move  immediately  to  the  relief  of  Colonel  Tappen  with  four  of  his 
regiments.  For  this  service  he  detailed  Colonel  Russell's,  Colonel 
Wright's,  Colonel  Pickett's,  and  Colonel  Freeman's  regiments  of  Tenn 
essee  volenteers.  These,  with  Colonel  Tappan's  Thirteenth  Arkansas, 
Captain  Beltzhoover's  Watson  Battery,  and  a  squadron  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Miller, s  battalion  of  cavalry,  composing  the  force  on  the  other 
side,  were  deemed  sufficient  to  resist  the  column  reported  to  have  land 
ed.  Having  an  adequate  number  of  steamers  at  the  landing,  this  order 
was  promptly  executed.  *  * 

Having  examined  and  found  the  batteries  in  the  fort  in  a  proper 
condition,  I  proceeded  up  the  river  to  examine  the  dispositions  of  Gen 
eral  McCown,who  was  charged  with  the  defences  of  the  left  flank.  These 
I  found  to  be  satisfactory.  He  had  already  advanced  a  battery  of  long- 
range  guns,  under  the  comand  of  Capt.  R.  A.  Stewart,  of  the  Louisana 
Pointe  Coupee  Battery,  to  a  position  from  whence  he  could  reach  with 
ease  the  enem  y,s  gunboats. 

From  this  point  and  that  occupied  by  the  heavy  siege  battery,  un 
der  command  of  Captain  Hamilton,  as  also  from  several  of  the  guns  of 
the  fort,  he  opened  a  heavy  fire,  which  was  d'uly  responded  to  by  the  en. 
emy.  After  half  an  hour's  engagement  the  boats  were  driven  up  the 
river.  At  a  subsequent  period  they  again  dropped  down  and  renewed 
the  conflict,  throwing  shot  and  shell  into  the  works.  This  was  contin 
ued  for  an  hour,  when  they  again  were  forced  to  retire. 

Ascertaining  that  the  remaining  portion  of  General  Pillow's  divi 
sion,  as  well  as  that  of  General  Cheatham,  was  in  proper  position,  I  re 
turned  to  the  river  bank  opposite  to  Belmont.  At  10:20  o'clock  the  fir 
ing  of  the  enemy's  advanced  guard  upon  our  pickets  was  heard,  and  in 
about  forty  minutes  afterwards  the  engagement  became  general  with  all 
arms. 

Taking  my  position  on  the  river  bank  midway  between  the  two 
points  of  expected  attack,  I  dispatched  one  of  my  aides  to  the  Missouri 
shore  to  inform  General  Pillow  of  my  position  and  readiness  to  afford 
him  such  support  as  he  might  require.  In  reply  he  requested  me  to  send 
him  additional  ammunition,  a  regiment  of  infantry,  and  a  section  of  ar 
tillery,  to  be  held  as  a  reserve.  The  ammunition  and  Col.  Knox  Walk- 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  31 

er's  regiment  were  sent  him  immediately  and  instead  of  a  section  of  ar 
tillery  I  dispatched  him  two  field  batteries  those  of  Capts.  W.  H.  Jack 
son  and  Polk.  Such  a  force  of  field  artillery  had  become  necessary 
from  the  fact  that  Captain  Beltzhoover's  battery  from  want  of  ammu 
nition  had  ceased  firing,  and  the  enemy  had  opened  fire  with  a  heavy 
battery,  of  the  presence  of  which  upon  the  field  I  had  until  then  not 
been  apprised.  The  steamer  transporting  these  batteries,  in  her  attempt 
to  land  them  on  the  Missouri  shore,  by  some  means  lost  her  stage  pianks' 
and  the  landing  at  that  moment  became  impossible.  She  was  forced 
to  return  to  the  Kentucky  shore.  Captain  Folk's  battery  was  landed 
at  a  later  hour,  but  too  late  to  render  service  in  operations  of  the  day. 
By  this  time  it  was  obvious  that  further  re-inforcements  had  be 
come  necessary,  and  Colonel  Caroll's  Fifteenth  Tennessee  and  Colonel 
Marks'  Eleventh  Louisiana  Regiment,  which  had  been  ordered  to  the 
river  bank  and  held  as  a  reserve,  were  ordered  forward.  I  directed 
Colonel  Marks  to  land  his  regiment  higher  up  the  river,  with  a  view  to 
a  flank  movement  which  he  was  ordered  to  make.  Shortly  after  his 
landing  he  was  met  by  General  Pillow,  who  directed  him,  with  his  regi 
ment  and  that  of  Colonel  Carroll,  to  move  rapidly  on  the  enemy's  flank. 
General  Pillow  directed  Colonel  Russell,  with  his  brigade,  to  support 
that  movement,  and  himself  accompanied  this  command  during  the  ex 
ecution  of  the  movement  under  Colonel  Marks.  Captain  Jackson,  who 
had  reported  to  General  Pillow  that  he  could  not  get  his  battery  ashore, 
was  attached  to  his  staff,  and  directed  to  lead  this  column.  In  aiding 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Barrow,  who  was  in  immediate  command  of  the 
Eleventh  Louisiana,  to  bring  a  portion  of  the  column  into  line,  he  fell 
severely  wounded. 

It  was  obvious,  from  the  yielding  of  our  columns  to  the  heavy 
pressure  of  the  masses  of  the  enemy's  infantry  and  the  fierce  assaults 
of  their  battery,  that  further  re-inforcements  were  necessary.  I  ordered 
down  General  Cheatham,  with  the  First  Brigade  of  his  divison,  under 
command  of  Colonel  Preston  Smith.  The  General,  having  arrived  in  ad 
vance  of  his  brigade,  was  directed  by  me  to  take  the  nearest  steamer 
and  to  move  promptly  across  the  river  to  rally  and  take  command  of 
the  portions  of  regiments  within  sight  on  the  shore,  and  to  support  the 
flank  movement  ordered  through  Colonel  Marks.  This  he  did  promptly 
and  effectively. 

At  this  juncture  the  enemy  fired  on  our  tents,  and  advancing  his 
battery  nearer  the  river  bank  opened  a^  heavy  fire  on  the  steamers  which 
were  transporting  our  troops,  in  some  instances  driving  shot  through 
two  of  them  at  the  same  time.  Their  commanding  pilots  and  other  of- 
ficers,nevertheless,  stood  firmly  at  their  posts,  and  exhibited  a  fearless 
ness  and  energy  deserving  of  the  highest  praise.  These  boats  were 
the  Prince,  under  Captain  Butler,  who  particularly  distinguished  him- 


32 


HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 


self,  the  Charm,   under  Captain   Trask,   and   the  Hill,  under   Captain 
Newell,  with  the  Kentucky,  under  Captain  Lodwick. 

I  directed  Capt.  Smith's  Mississippi  battery  to  move  to  the  river 
bank,  opposite  the  field  of  conflict,  and  to  open  upon  the  enemy's  posi 
tions.  I  also  directed  Maj.  A.  P.  Stewart,  in.  command  of  the  heavy 
guns  in  the  fort,  to  open  upon  the  same  position,  it  being  now  seen  that 
these  guns  could  be  used  without  causing  danger  to  our  own  troops. 

This  joint  flre  was  so  terriflc  as  to  dislodge  the  enemy,  silence  his 
battery,  and  cause  him  to  take  up  his  line  of  march  for  his  boats.  He 
had  scarcely  put  himself  in  motion  when  he  encountered  Colonel  Marks 
flrst  and  afterwards  General  Cheatham  in  his  flank,  with  both  of  whom 
severe  conflicts  followed,  and  by  whom  he  was  driven  in  with  great  loss. 

On  the  arrival  of  General  Cheatham's  brigade,  I  took  charge  of 
it,  together  with  Captain  White's  company  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Log 
wood's  battalion  of  cavalry,  and  proceeded  with  them  across  the  river, 
having  first  ordered  two  regiments  of  General  McCown's  division  to 
follow. 

On  landing  I  was  met  by  Generals  Pillow  and  Cheatham,  whom  I 
directed,  with  the  regiments  of  General  Cheatham's  command  and  por 
tions  of  others,  to  press  the  enemy  to  the  boats.  This  order  was  exe 
cuted  with  alacrity  and  in  double-quick  time.  The  route  over  which 
we  passed  was  strewn  with  the  dead  and  wounded  of  the  conflicts  of 
Colonel  Marks  and  General  Cheatham,  already  alluded  to,  and  with 
arms,  knapsacks,  overcoats,  &c. 

On  arriving  at  the  point  where  his  transports  lay,  I  ordered  the 
column,  headed  by  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  senior  regiment 
of  Tennesssee  Volunteers,  under  cover  of  a  field  thickly  set  with  corn, 
to  be  deployed  along  the  river  bank  within  easy  range  of  the  boats. 
This  being  accomplished,  a  heavy  fire  was  opened  upon  them  simulta 
neously,  riddling  them  with  balls,  and,  as  we  have  reason  to  believe, 
with  heavy  loss  to  the  enemy.  Under  this  galling  fire  he  cut  his  lines 
and  retreated  from  the  shore,  many  of  his  soldiers  being  driven  over 
board  by  the  rush  of  those  behind  them.  Our  fire  was  returned  by  the 
heaviest  cannonading  from  his  gunboats,  which  discharged  upon  our 
lines  showers  of  grope,  cannister,  and  shell  as  they  retired  with  their 
convoy  in  the  direction  of  Cairo.  It  being  now  sunset,  and  being  left 
in  possession  of  the  field,  I  ordered  the  troops  to  retire. 

My  first  acknowledgements  of  this  signal  triumph  of  our  arms 
and  the  defeat  of  the  machinations  of  our  enemies  are  due  to  the  favor 
ing  providence  of  Almighty  God,  by  which  his  plans  were  unvailed  and 
frustrated,  and  by  which  the  hearts  of  our  troops  were  made  strong  in 
the  day  of  battle.  Confiding  in  the  justice  of  our  cause,  we  have  tilt 
we  could  put  our  trust  in  His  protection  and  defense,  and  He  has  given 
us  the  victory. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  33 

Our  thanks  are  due  to  the  brave  officers  and  soldiers  who,  under 
God,  were  the  instruments  of  this  victory.  To  Brigadier-General  Pillow, 
to  whom  the -duty  of  receiving  the  enemy's  atack  was  assigned,  is  due 
the  credit  of  meeting  that  attack  with  firmness,  and  of  sustaining  the 
heat  of  the  conflict  in. the  early  part  of  the  engagement.  This  he  did 
with  persistent  energy  and  gallantry,  courageously  supporting  and  en 
couraging  his  troops  by  cheering  words  and  personal  example. 

The  firmness  with  which  Col.  J.  V.  Wright  and  his  gallant  regi 
ment  sustained  themselves  on  the  left  flank  of  the  first  line  of  battle,  as 
elsewhere,  merits  strong  commendation. 

The  Watson  Battery  was  served  with  decided  ability  and  unflinch 
ing  courage  by  its  commander,  Captain  Beltzhoover,  who  retired  his 
guns  from  the  field  only  after  he  had  exhausted  his  ammunition.  In 
this  connection  also,  as  belonging  to  the  same  command,  it  is  due  to 
Colonel  Tappan  and  his  regiment  to  say  that  the  promptness  with  which 
they  prepared  for  the  enemy,  and  the  determined  courage  with  which 
they  sustained  their  part  of  the  general  conflict  are  entitled  to  appro 
bation. 

To  Capt.  M.  Smith,  of  the  Mississippi  battery,  and  to  Maj.  A.  P. 
Stewart,  who  directed  the  artillery  in  the  fort,  I  am  particularly  in 
debted  for  the  skill  and  judgment  manifested  in  the  service  of  the  guns 
under  their  command,  to  the  joint  fire  from  which  I  feel  not  a  little  in 
debted  for  turning  the  fortunes  of  the  day. 

But  to  recite  in  detail  all  the  instances  of  skill 'and  courage  dis 
played  by  individual  commanders  and  their  several  commands  would  be 
to  run  well  through  the  list  of  those  who  were  engaged,  and  to  partici 
pate  also  the  reports  of  the  division  and  regimental  commanders. 

The  battle  was  fought  against  great  odds,  both  as  to  numbers  and 
position.  The  Mississippi  River  dividing  the  field  placed  us  at  a  disad 
vantage  which  it  was  necessary  to  overcome,  and  although  we  expe 
rienced  an  occasional  reverse,  these  reverses  were  soon  repaired,  and 
the  results  of  the  day  proved  beyond  all  doubt  the  superiority  ot  our 
troops  in  all  the  essential  characterictics  of  the  soldier. 

To  Acting  Asistant  Adjutant-General  Blake,  C.  S.  Army;  Lieuten 
ant  Dixon,  C.  S.  Army  Engineers;  Captain  Champney,  Ordinance; 
Lieutanent  Snowden,  C.  S.  Army  Topographical  Corps;  Maj.  H.  W. 
Winslow,  acting  aide-de-camp,  all  members  of  my  staff,  I  feel  indebted 
for  their  prompt*.  ,s  and  activity  in  execution  of  my  orders  and  for 
their  support  in  directing  the  operations  of  the  day. 

In  a  conflict  continued  through  so  many  hours  and  so  hotly  con 
tested  the  list  of  casualties  must  be  expected  to  be  large.  Our  loss  in 
killed  was  105;  wounded,  419;  missing,  117.  Total,  641. 

The  number  of  prisoners  taken  by  the  enemy,  as  shown  by  their 
list  furnished  us,  was  106,  all  of  whom  have  been  returned  by  exchange. 


34  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

Of  the  enemy's  loss  we  have  no  means  of  accurate  information, 
but  from  all  sources  open  to  us,  the  condition  of  the  field,  the  list  of 
prisoners  taken  by  us,  the  report  of  those  returned  to  us,  and  the  re 
ports  of  the  enemy,  I  am  satisfied  it  cannot  fall  short  of  1,500;  fourteen- 
fifteenths  of  that  number  must  have  been  killed,  wounded  and  drowned. 
After  making  a  liberal  exchange  of  the  captured  with  the  enemy 
100  of  their  prisoners  remain  still  in  my  hands.  I  have  also  a  stand  of 
colors,  a  fraction  over  1,000  stand  of  arms,  with  knapsacks,  ammuni 
tion,  and  other  military  stores. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

L.  POLK, 
Major-General,  Commanding. 


After  the  battle  of  Belmont  the  regiment  returned  to  their  camp  at 
Birds  Point,  the  wounded  being  taken  to  Mound  City,  111.,  six  miles 
above  Cairo,  on  the  Ohio  river,  where  the  general  hospital  was  located. 
On  the  14th  of  Nov.,  we  were  relieved  by  the  Tenth  Iowa;  embarked  on 
board  the  steamer  Memphis  for  St.  Louis  to  rest  and  recruit.  We  were 
honored  by  a  salute  from  the  batteries  and  accompanied  by  the  bands 
to  the  boat.  We  arrived  at  St.  Louis  on  the  16th.  We  marched  through 
the  city  to  Benton  Barracks  being  reviewed  enroute  by  Major  General 
Curtis;  at  the  barracks  we  were  greeted  with  cheers  and  salutes  by 
four  new  Iowa  regiments  in  line  at  the  entrance;  after  we  were  set 
tled,  details  were  made  from  officers  and  men  to  go  to  Iowa  on  recruit 
ing  service  to  fill  up  the  depleted  ranks  caused  by  the  heavy  losses  in 
the  late  strife  and  service.  The  regiment  remained  at  the  barracks  un 
til  the  13th  of  January,  when  they  embarked  on  the  steamer  Continen 
tal  bound  again  south  for  the  front,  before  we  had  time  to  get  recruits 
or  much  recuperation.  In  the  meantime  Captain  Parrott  was  appoint 
ed  Lieut.  Colonel,  in  "the  place  of  Lieut.  Col.  Wentz,  killed  at  Belmont. 
The  weather  was  bitter  cold;  as  there  was  only  room  in  the  cabin  for 
a  small  portion  of  the  command,  the  men  crawled  under  the  boilers 
and  anywhere  to  try  and  keep  warm;  during  the  night  of  the  14th  the 
steamer  froze  fast  in  the  ice  in  mid  stream  near  Sulphur  Springs.  Af 
ter  ah  unsuccessful  effort  to  free  the  boat,  the  regiment  debarked,  car 
rying  the  baggage,  camp  and  garrison  equipage  ashore  on  their  backs 
over  the  ice;  we  were  then  loaded  on  the  cars  and  returned  to  St.  Louis 
and  billeted  in  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  bulling,  where  we  thawed  out 
and  filled  up  with  hot  coffee,  regular  rations  and  next  day  we  crossed 
the  river  and  took  train  for  Cairo,  where  we  arrived  on  the  18th.  Dur 
ing  the  trip  one  man  in  company  "F"  had  both  legs  crushed  under  the 
cars  and  died  from  the  effects.  On  the  19th  the  regiment  was  loaded 
on  the  steamer  Memphis  and  taken  to  Fort  Holt  where  we  debarked, 


VFTERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  35 

went  into  camp  and  remained  until  the  24th  the  river  rose  and  drove  us 
out,  so  that  we  had  to  abandon  our  camp,  go  aboard  the  steamer  Chan 
cellor  where  we  proceeded  to  Smithland,  Ky.,  leaving  our  sick  at  the 
hospital  at  Mound  City  en-route.  The  weather  having  been  cold,  wet 
and  disagreeable  since  leaving  our  sick  at  the  hospital  at  Mound  City 
and  disagreeable  since  leaving  St.  Louis  there  was  much  sickness  and 
suffering  during  that  time.  We  arrived  at  Smithland,  Ky.,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Cumberland  river,  on  the  25th  and  went  into  camp  at  Fort 
Smith,  where  we  had  opportunity  to  rest;  other  regiments  arrived  and 
General  Lew  Wallace  took  command.  On  the  5th  we  again  embarked 
on  steamers  and  proceeded  to  Paducah,  Ky.,  arriving  the  same  day, 
in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  down  pour  of  rain;  we  tied  up  remaining  on 
board  all  night  and  the  next  moning  proceeded  and  debarked  about  3 
miles  below  and  in  sight  of  Ft. Henry  .occupied  by  the  enemy.  As  soon  as 
the  regiment  could  be  got  together.it  was  ordered  to  the  interior,to  get 
in  rear  of  the  fort  to  cut  off  the  rebel  retreat,  in  case  the  fleet,  then 
in  the  river  should  succeed  in  shelling  them  out.  The  roads  were  al 
most  impassible  with  mud  and  swollen  streams  caused  by  constant  rains 
so  that  it  took  us  until  dark.  We  finally  got  within  half  a  mile  of  the 
fort  to  find  it  evacuated,  as  they  could  not  stand  the  fire  from  the 
fleet.  On  the  morning  of  the  7th  we  marched  into  the  fort,  saw  the 
dead  confederates  and  the  havoc  made  by  the  gun  boats  in  the  naval 
battle  the  day  before.  General  Grant  in  his  memoirs  says  that;  "All 
the  gunboats  were  hit  many  times.  The  damage,  however,  beyond 
what  could  be  repaired  by  a  small  expenditure  of  money,  was  slight, 
except  to  the  Essex.  A  shell  penetrated  the  boiler  of  that  vessel  and  ex 
ploded  it,  killing  and  wounding  forty-eight  men,  nineteen  of  whom 
were  soldiers  who  had  been  detailed  to  act  with  the  navy.  After  the 
fall  of  Fort  Henry  Captain  Walke,  commanding  the  iron-clad  Caron- 
delet,  at  my  request  ascended  the  Tennessee  river  and  thoroughly  de 
stroyed  the  bridge  of  the  Memphis  and  Ohio  railroad." 

The  weather  at  this  time  was  cold,  wet  and  disagreeable  and  we 
had  very  little  to  eat,  so  that  the  troops  had  to  resort  to  foraging  from 
the  surrounding  country,  the  most  of  which  consisted  of  sheep,  cattle 
and  hogs,  all  of  which  were  spring  poor,  making  it  very  unpalatable, 
but  it  was  a  case  of  that  or  nothing,  until  we  could  get  rations  from 
our  base  of  supplies.  We  occupied  the  rebels  shebangs,  as  our  camp 
equipage  had  not  arrived.  Heavy  details  werejnade  while  we  were 
there  to  fix  roads  and  build  bridges,  until  the  camp  was  threatened  with 
inundation,  when  we  were  compelled  to  remove.  On  the  12th  we  broke 
camp  and  marched  across  country  twelve  miles  to  Ft.  Donaldson,  under 
direct  command  of  General  Grant. 

We  remained  at  Fort  Henry  until  the  12th,  furnishing  heavy  de 
tails  to  fix  roads  and  build  bridges  on  roads  leading  to  Fort  Donaldson; 


36  HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

the  river  rose  so  rapidly  that  we  were  practically  driven  out  of  our 
camp.  The  regiment  arrived  at  Fort  Donaldson  after  a  hard  march  of 
twelve  miles  through  mud,  wet,  dirty  and  exhausted;  the  weather  clear 
ed  up  and  was  very  cold  and  we  were  without  any  means  of  shelter, 
many  of  the  men  having  thrown  away  their  wet  blankets  and  over 
coats  to  keep  from  str  agling.  Our  brigade  as  now  organized  consist 
ed  of  the  2nd,  7th,  and  14th  Iowa  and  the  25th  Indiana,  under  command 
of  our  old  Colonel,  J.  G.  Lauman,  in  General  Smith's  Division. 

BY  W.  R.  AKERS. 

On  the  day  following  our  entrance  into  Port  Henry  there  occurred 
an  amusing  and  rather  bellicose  incident,  which  many  of  our  comrades 
will  recall.  From  the  hour  that  we  decamped  from  our  transports  a 
few  miles  below  the  fort,  until  by  a  circuitous,  and  somewhat  belated 
course,  we  arrived  at  the  Fort,  we  were  treated  to  frequent  and  copious 
showers  of  rain*;  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  we  were  at  all 
able  to  make  progress,  on  account  of  swollen  bayous  and  "black  wa 
ter,"  or  find  a  dry  spot  on  which  to  rest  or  sleep  for  the  brief  intervals 
during  which  the  command  halted,  to  find  a  way  out,  or  await  the  ap 
proach  of  morning. 

When  at  length  we  reached  the  already  fallen  and  abandoned 
Fort,  it  was  in  a  bedraggled  condition — everybody  thoroughly  soaked, 
and  arms  of  all  kinds  in  sore  need  of  overhauling  and  a  general  clean 
ing  and  polishing  up,  in  this  work  of  love,  for  such  the  majority  of 
our  comrades  regarded  a  few  hours  spent  on  their  pet  guns,  small  arms, 
and  accruterments,  almost  the  entire  command  was  engaged.  It  will  be 
remembered,  that  we  had  taken  possssion  of  the  rather  comfortable 
huts  of  the  enemy  and  were  having  a  sort  of  free  and  easy,  "happy  go 
lucky"  time  of  it,  in  the  absence  of  the  usual  camp  restrictions  or  re 
straints  of  any  kind — save  such  as  were  self  imposed. 

The  Tennessee  River  was  swollen  out  of  its  banks,  and  countless 
objects,  such  as  logs  and  stumps,  etc.,  etc.,  were  drifting  down  from 
the  upper  tributaries  and  overflowed  valleys — presenting  fine  oppor 
tunities  for  the  display  of  good  and  bad  marksmanship,  as  the  splash 
of  the  ball — overreaching  or  falling  short — could  be  plainly  seen  and 
marked  for  a  distance  of  fully  a  mile  or  more.  It  will  no  doubt  forever 
remain  a  secret  past  finding  out,  who  the  comrade  was  who  first  oiled 
up  his  revolver  and  stepped  out  to  take  a  shot  at  a  far  distant  black 
object — a  "floater"  mayhap — in  the  midst  of  that  rushing  watery  waste. 

But  in  this  case  as  in  most  others,  example  was  contagious,  and 
in  shorter  time  than  it  takes  to  tell  the  story,  the  irregular  margin  of 
the  river  was  lined  for  a  half  a  mile  with  the  boys,  each  anxious  to 
establish  his  claim,  for  the  best  shooting  iron  in  the  company  as  well 
as  his  own  unerring  marksmanship. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  37 

The  result  was  a  regular  fussilade,  that  resembled  nothing  so 
much  as  a  spirited  attack  upon  our  pickets — and  the  warm  reception 
our  boys  were  in  the  habit  of  extending  to  our  visiting  friends  (?)  in 
grey.  In  the  mean  time  Gen.  Grant,  just  then  upon  the  threshhold  of 
his  immortal  career,  was  making  a  personal  examination  of  the  en 
vironments  of  Ft.  Donaldson,  and  the  several  roads,  leading  thereto, 
over  which  he  proposed,  in  a  few  days  to  lead  his  conquering  army. 

Returning  to  Ft.  Henry,  he  was  no  doubt  greatly  surprised,  and 
probably  a  little  worried,  on  hearing  what  seemed  to  him, 'a  veritable 
"Opening  of  the  ball."  Had  the  enemy,  in  some  mysterious  manner, 
eluded  him  and  returning  to  the  scene  of  their  recent  defeat,  were  now 
driving  in  his  pickets,  preparatory  to  an  assault  upon  his  devoted  little 
army.  Certain  it  is,  that  he  was  greatly  disturbed  by  this  inexplicable 
"breaking  out,"  and  no  less  annoyed  and  provoked  when  on  the  extreme 
left  of  the  fray,  far  in  advance  of  his  staff,  and  bespattered  with  mud, 
he  arrived  upon  the  scene  of  the^-shooting  match. 

Th  7th  Iowa  had  the  honor  of  guarding  the  extreme  left  of  that 
invincible  line,  and  also  the  greater  honor  of  receiving  the  General  as 
he  rode,  furious  and  pell  mell,  into  their  astonished  ranks. 

"Tush"  Harrington,  of  Co.  "G,"  had  just  borrowed  my  revolver, 
and  had  just  fired  the  "last  shot  in  the  locker,"  as  the  General  seized 
him  by  the  nape  of  the  neck  or  the  top  of  the  head  (I  was  so  interested 
and  excited  party  just»at  that  critical  moment  and  did  not  pay  special 
attention  to  particulars)  and  commanded  him  to  fork  over  the  afore 
said  and  still  smoking  revolver.  "Tush"  never  did  particularly  object 
to  forking  over  anything  he  could  spare  and  especially  free  and  good 
hearted  was  he  in  this  regard,  when  the  property  belonged  as  in  this 
case,  to  the  other  fellow — as  was  usually  the  case  with  most  things 
that  "Tush"  was  caught  fooling  with. 

The  now  irate  fifer  proceeded  to  take  a  hand.  Instinctively  di- 
Tining  that  some  dire  disaster  was  about  to  overtake  his  favorite 
"poper"  and  in  blissful  ignorance  of  who  the  gentleman  in  mud  might 
be,  he  grabbed  the  barrel  of  the  revolver,  and  not  only  arrested  the 
transfer  of  the  property,  but  badly  frightened  the  General's  horse — 
and  General,  horse,  and  irate  fifer,  all  went  into  the  revolver  business. 
The  resulting  scene  would  have  been  capital  material  for  a  modern 
moving  picture.  Now  the  General  rose  in  his  stirups  and  lifting  John 
out  of  his  boots,  so  to  speak,  surged,  and  jerked  and  yanked,  while  his 
horse  reared,  and  whirled,  carrying  the  "fifer"  in  circles  around  him, 
his  heels  in  the  air,  holding  on  like  grim  death  to  the  revolver  with  one 
hand,  and  to  some  part  of  the  enemies  outfit  with  the  other.  A  con 
siderable  crowd  has  quickly  gathered  in  a  circle  about  the  "storm  cen 
ter,"  and  were  silent  spectators.  At  length  nature  and  hair  brained 
pluck  gave  way  to  superior  forces,  and  John  went  sprawling  in  the 


38  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

mud.  But  tho  breathless  and  exhausted— true  to  his  well  known  fail 
ing,  he  proceeded  to  lavish  upon  the  General  some  of  his  choicest  bou 
quets  of  "sass." 

The  staff  had  long  since  arrived  and  viewed  with  undisguised 
surprise  this  encounter  between  the  infantry  and  the  cavalry.  An  "or 
derly"  is  quietly  ordered  to  arrest  the  boy  with  the  mouth— and  here 
General  Grant  made  one  mistake,  if  he  never  made  another — rising 
in  his  stirrups  he  threw  the  revolver  into  the  river,  and  galloped  away 
amid  the  shouts  and  jeers  of  the  crowd,  for  few,  if  any  of  them  knew 
that  he  was  General  Grant. 

And  now  for  the  sequel. 

John  was  escorted  to  the  steamer  "New  Uncle  Sam,"  which  lay 
at  the  wharf  and  was  being  used  as  guard  house  and  prison  in  the  ab 
sence  of  any  other.  Within  half  an  hour  the  sergeant  returned  and 
told  him  to  go  to  "his  quarters. 

The  point  into  which  the  revolver  was  thrown  happened  to  be  over 
flow,  and  not  more  than  waist  deep,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  boys  had 
"waded  in"  and  recovered  the  revolver  and  had  it  high  and  dry  when 
John  got  back.  Thus  ended  probably  the  only  hand  to  hand  combat 
with  which  General  Grant  ever  honored  a  private  soldier. 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  39 


CHAPTER     IV. 
BATTLE  OF  FORT  DONALSON. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  13th  we  were  hastily  formed  in  line, 
on  the  extreme  left  of  our  army  to  advance  through  the  mud  to  take 
position,  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  of  the  Fort,  where  we  laid  all 
day  under  artillery  fire.  We  could  distinctly  hear  the  gun  boats  en- 
engaging  the  enemy  on  the  river  front  all  day.  On  the  14th,  after 
spending  a  sleepless  night  in  the  cold  snow  and  sleet  without  shelter, 
we  were  held  in  reserve  for  the  day  while  the  gunboats  were  bombard 
ing  the  Fort.  The  fleet  failed  to  dislodge  them,  so  after  doing  consid 
erable  damage  to  the  fleet  and  wounding  Commodore  Foote,  they  with 
drew,  without  apparently  accomplishing  much.  During  the  night  of  the 
15th  it  snowed  again  and  being  without  fires  or  shelter  the  troops  suf 
fered  intensely.  Fires  were  not  allowed  at  night  as  it  drew  the  fire  of 
the  enemy  from  the  fort;  as  it  was  they  sent  shells  over  occasionally 
into  our  camp,  creating  a  good  deal  of  confusion  at  times.  On  the  right 
we  could  hear  very  heavy  firing,  where  the  rebels  made  a  desperate 
charge  on  McClernand's  division,  trying  to  escape,  they  did  break 
through  his  lines  at  one  time  creating  considerable  confusion  and  de 
moralization,  but  General  Thayer  went  to  his  support  with  a  brigade, 
drove  them  back  and  re-established  our  lines.  At  about  three  o'clock 
p.  m.,  our  brigade  was  formed  in  column  by  regiments  for  the  final 
charge,  in  the  following  order:  2nd  Iowa  in  advance,  to  be  followed 
by  the  25th  Indiana,7th  Iowa,and  the  14th  Iowa; they  laid  low  under  the 
protection  of  the  hill,  awaiting  the  order,  which  soon  came.  For  some 
unaccountable  reason  the  52nd  Indiana  did  not  respond,  so  the  7th 
jumped  over  their  prostrate  forms,  followed  by  the  14th,  and  charged 
up  the  hill  close  up  to  the  2nd,  going  over  the  outer  works  about  the 
same  time  with  the  gallant  2nd  which  stood  the  brunt  of  the  charge 
and  the  heaviest  loss.  General  Smith  who  commanded  our  division, 
displayed  great  gallantry  and  coolness,  advancing  mounted  with  the 
men,  cheering  and  urging  them  on,  distinguishing  himself  and 
commanding  admiration  in  the  minds  of  all  who  witnesesd  his  daring 
exposure,  amid  a  murderous  fire  of  shells,  grape,  canister  and 
musketry. 

It  was  impossible  to  keep  much  of  an  allignment  in  the  charge, 
on  acount  of  the  obstruction,  abitis  and  natural  conformation  of  the 
land,  so  that  the  men  went  over  the  works  in  some  disorder,  but 


40  HISTORY^OF.THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

the  result  was  accomplished,  the  outer  works  taken  and  held,  although 
the  charging  command  found  it  necessary  to  crawl  back  on  the  out 
side  of  the  works  to  get  away  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy  in  the  fort 
proper,  at  so  close  range,  as  it  was  night  the  troops  without  orders 
contented  themselves  with  holding  their  ground,  when  morning  dis 
played  the  white  flag  over  the  main  fort  and  General  Smith  had 
received  a  note  from  the  Confederate  General  Buckner,  asking  for  an 
armitice  to  arrange  terms  of  surrender,  which  was  submitted  to  General 
Grant,  and  elicited  his  immortal  reply.  "No  terms  except  an  uncon 
ditional  and  immediate  surrender  can  be  accepted.  I  propose  to 
move  immediately  upon  your  works."  to  which  General  Buckner  re 
luctantly  but  immediately  acceeded  -to  and  the  battle  was  over. 

As  usual  they  claimed  an  inferior  force;  but  reports  show 
that  the  troops  engaged  on  each  side  were  about  equal.  General  Grant 
had  all  told  27,000  men  of  all  arms.  Our  commissary  general  of 
prisoners  reported  having  issued  14,623  rations  to  prisoners  captured; 
Generals  Floyd  and  Pillow  got  away  on  their  transports,  the  night 
of  the  15th  with  3,000  men.  Forrest  sneaked  up  under  the  river  bank 
with  1000  cavalry  and  forded  the  river  at  the  shoals  and  escaped  and 
others  got  away  singly  and  in  squads  all  night  and  General  Pillow 
reported  his  loss  at  2,000  in  the  battles  in  defence  of  the  fort. 

The  loss  in  the  Second  Iowa  in  this  charge  was  forty  one  killed 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven  wounded,  while  the  losses  in  the 
Seventh  were  thirty-nine  killed  and  wounded.  The  charging  troops 
were  allowed  the  privilege  of  occupying  the  rebel  quarters,  which 
in  that  inclement  season  of  the  year,  made  it  more  comfortable  than 
sleeping  in  the  snow  without  tents  or  shelter.  The  losses  from 
sickness  and  exposure  on  this  campaign  were  more  severe  than  the 
casualities  of  battle  as  we  were  so  long  without  shelter,  proper  ra 
tions  and  camp  equipage. 

General  Grant's  memoirs  recites  that,  "There  seems  from  sub 
sequent  accounts  to  have  been  much  consternation,  particularly  among 
the  officers  of  high  rank,  in  Dover  during  the  night  of  the  15th. 
General  Floyd  the  commanding  officer,  who  was  a  man  of  talent 
enough  for  a  civil  position,  was  no  soldier  and,  possibly,  did  not 
possess  the  elements  of  one.  He  was  further  unfitted  for  the  command, 
for  the  reason  that  his  conscience  must  have  troubled  him  and  made 
him  afraid.  As  Secretary  of  War  he  had  taken  a  solemn  oath  to 
maintain  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  to  uphold  the 
same  against  all  its  enemies.  He  had  betrayed  the  trust.  As  Secre 
tary  of  War  he  was  reported  through  the  northern  press  to  have 
scattered  the  little  army  the  country  had  so  that  the  most  of  it  could 
be  picked  up  in  detail  when  secession  occurred.  About  a  year  before 
leaving  the  Cabinet  he  had  removd  arms  from  northern  to  southern 


E.  W.  HERMAN,  CO.  "  G.' 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  j  41 

arsenals;    He  continued  in  the  Cabinet  until  abont  the  first  of  January 

1861,  while  he  was  working  vigilantly  for  the  establishment  of  a  Con 
federacy  made  out  of  United  States  territory.    Well  may  he  have  been 
afraid  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  National  troops.     He  no  doubt  would 
have    been    tried    for    mis-appropriating    public    property,    if    not    for 
treason,  had  he  been  captured.     General  Pillow,  next  in  command,  was 
conceited   and   prided    himself   on    his    services   in    the    Mexican    war. 
He  telegraphed  to  General  Johnston  at  Nashville,  after  our  men  were 
in  the  rifle  pits,,  and  almost  on  the  eve  of  making  his  escape,  that  the 
Southern  troops  had  had  great  success  all  day.     Johnston  forwarded 
the  dispatch  to  Richmond,  while  the  authorities  at  the  capital  were 
reading  it  Floyd  and  Pillow  were  fugitives. 

A  council  of  war  was  held  by  the  enemy  at  which  all  agreed  that 
it  would  be  imposible  to  hold  out  longer.  General  Buckner  who  was 
third  in  rank  in  the  garrison,  but  much  the  most  capable  soldier, 
seems  to  have  regarded  it  a  duty  to  hold  the  fort  until  the  general 
commanding  the  department,  A.  S.  Johnston,  should  get  back  to  his 
headquarters  at  Nashville.  Buckner's  report  however  showed  that 
he  considered  Donelson  lost  and  that  any  attempt  to  hold  the  place 
longer  would  be  at  the  sacrifice  of  the  command.  Being  assured  that 
Johnston  was  already  at  Nashville,  Buskner  to  agreed  that  surrender 
was  the  proper  thing.  Floyd  turned  over  the  command  to  Pillow,  who 
declined  it.  It  then  developed  upon  Buckner,  who  accepted  the  re 
sponsibility  of  the  position.  Floyd  and  Pillow  took  possession  of  all 
the  transports  at  Dover  and  before  morning  were  on  their  way  to 
Nashville,  with  the  brigade  formerly  commanded  by  Floyd  and  some 
other  troops." 

INCIDENTS    OF    FORT    DONELSON. 

By  Major  S.  Mahon. 
The  army  under  Gen.  Grant  advanced  on  the  12th  of  February, 

1862,  across  the  narrow  peninsula  separating  the  two  forts,  Henry  and 
Donelson,  the  one  on  the  Tennessee  and  the  other  on  the  Cumberland 
river.    There  was  little  or  no  camp  equipage  or  rations  carried  by  the 
army  in  the  hasty  campaign  involving  the  capture  of  the  two  forts. 
The  12th  was  a  warm  day  and  many  of  the  men  threw  away  their  blan 
kets  in  the  march.     . 

The  army  reached  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Donelson  during  the  af 
ternoon  of  the  12th  and  passed  the  night  in  comparative  comfort,  as  the 
weather  was  still  warm.  The  next  day  was  occupied  in  developing  the 
enemy's  lines  and  establishing  a  regular  blockade  of  seig"e  of  the  fort 
and  its  defences. 

Co.  A  and  F  were  detached  on  this  day  and  sent  to  support  a  20 
pounder  parrott  which  was  placed  in  position  to  shell  the  enemy's 
lines.  The  detachment  was  under  Capt.  Reed  of  Co.  A,  Co.  F  being 


42  '  HISTORY   OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

commanded  by  Lieut.  Mahon.  *  The  detachment  was  halted  at  "order 
arms"  immediately  behind  the  gun,  fully  exposed  to  the  return  fire 
of  the  enemy.  The  first  shot  from  the  20  pounder  brought  an  instant 
reply  from  a  whole  battery  of  the  enemy  about  three  hundred  yards  to 
our  front.  This  discharge  killed  or  wounded  most  of  the  gun  corps, 
but  fortunately  went  over  the  heads  of  the  supporting  infantry,  they 
being  slightly  below  the  position  of  the  gun. 

The  men,  on  their  own  account,  lay  down  until  the  fusilade  was 
over,  when  the  detachment  assisted  in  moving  the  gun  from  its  per 
ilous  position,  it  having  fired  only  one  shot.  The  detachment  was 
then  ordered  to  rejoin  the  regiment. 

The  demonstration  perhaps  was  useful  in  developing  the  position 
of  the  enemy. 

The  following  night  was  one  long  to  be  remembered.  The  rain 
fell  in  torrents  wetting  every  man  in  the  command  to  the  skin  from 
private  to  general.  Towards  morning  the  rain  changed  to  snow  and 
it  became  bitter  cold;  this  continued  all  day  and  the  following  night. 
No  fires  were  allowed  on  the  lines  as  that  would  indicate  our  position 
to  the  enemy,  but  small  fires  were  permitted  in  the  deep  hollows  be 
hind,  where  men  and  officers  were  permitted  to  take  turns  in  falling 
back  to  warm  themselves. 

On  this  mission  the  writer  approached  a  struggling  fire  late  in 
the  night,  at  the  same  time  with  several  soldiers,  who  were  also  hast 
ening  toward  the  grateful  warmth:  they  uncerimoniously  elbowed  those 
who  were  already  enjoying  the  influence  of  the  fire,  until  a  mild  pro 
test  arose  from  one  of  those  already  crouching  close  to  the  blaze.  This 
proved  to  be  none  other  than  Gen.  Charles  F  Smith,  our  division  com 
mander,  who  shared  his  little  fire  with  the  perishing  soldiers,  who  ap 
proached  to  partake  of  its  warmth.  The  incident  only  illustrates  how 
necessity  levels  rank  and  station. 

Another  incident  of  this  distinguished  officer  which  will  ever  live 
in  the  writer's  memory,  was  seeing  him  next  day  when  our  brigade 
stormed  the  enemy's  entrenchments,  ride  up  the  hill  mounted  on  a 
white  horse,  and  crossing  the  enemy's  works  almost  abreast  of  the 
head  of  the  column.  He  was  then  sixty  years  old,  with  hair  and  mus 
tache  as  white  as  snow  but  looked  every  inch  the  splendid  soldier 
that  he  was. 

His  death  occurred  a  couple  of  months  later  at  Pittsburg  Landing, 
caused  by  exposure  in  the  Donelson  campaign.  Had  he  lived,  his  name 
might  now  be  inscribed  on  the  scroll  of  honor  with  Grant,  Sherman 
and  Sheridan. 

While  recuperating  from  an  arduous  campaign,  the  officers  pro 
ceeded  to  a  reorganization  of  the  forces  ana  the  First  Iowa  brigade 
was  formed,  consisting  of  the  2d,  7th,  12th,  and  14th  Iowa  regiments 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  43 

and  Colonel  Lanman  given  the  command. 

On  the  sixth  of  March  we  placed  our  sick  upon  the  transports 
and  sent  them  north  to  the  hospitals  and  left  the  fort  with  only 
108  met  fit  for  duty,  marched  six  miles  to  Iron  Furnace  works  and 
camped.  7th  broke  camp  and  marched  to  the  Tennessee  river,  which 
was  out  of  its  banks,  we  had  to  lay  here  until  the  12th  awaiting  boats 
to  transport  us,  during  which  time  rations  are  scare.  This  day  we 
embarked  on  the  steamer  White  Cloud  and  proceeded  up  the  river. 
We  arrived  at  Savannah,  Tenn.,  on  the  14th,  where  some  of  our 
convalescents  joined  us;  continued  on  our  journey  up  stream  on  the 
14th.  Transports  are  so  crowded  that  men  fell  overboard  and  are 
drowned.  Arrived  at  Pittsburg  landing  on  the  16th,  but  did  not  go 
ashore  until  the  18th,  when  we  debark  and  go  into  camp  on  the  bank  of 
a  small  creek  about  a  mile  north  and  west  of  the  river  where  we  lay 
drilling  and  doing  guard  duty.  Large  reinforcements  of  new  troops 
with  batteries  arriving  every  day. 

The  reenforcements  of  General  Grant's  army  here  were  for  the 
most  part,  raw  recruits,  or  inexperienced  in  warfare.  Some  of  them 
had  fought  in  Missouri  and  Donelson.  Few  of  them  had  any  experi 
ence,  either  officers  or  men,  in  actual  service. 

It  is  well  known  to  the  soldiers  at  the  outposts  that  the  rebels 
were  in  force,  close  to  our  front,  days  before  the  attack,  if  the  officers  in 
high  command  did  not  know  it,  it  was  their  own  fault.  Where  were 
the  cavalry?  that  should  have  been  scouting  around  all  this  time. 
There  were  plenty  of  them  there,  who  should  have  been  on  the  look  out 
to  appraise  us.  As  a  matter  of  fact  the  rebeis  were  in  force  within 
three  miles  of  our  lines,  under  their  most  experienced  officers;  John 
son  and  Beauregard  two  days  before  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  Nevertheless 
our  outposts  were  unprotected  and  the  pickets  were  the  thinnest;  of  re- 
connissances  there  was  none,  whilst  our  camps  were  utterly  unprotect 
ed  by  works  of  any  sort  whatever  As  a  matter  of  fact,  as  shown  by 
the  enemy's  official  reports  we  were  to  be  attacked  Saturday  morning 
instead  of  Sunday  if  it  had  not  been  for  a  heavy  rainstorm;  all  this  time 
they  were  in  our  immediate  front,  in  force  much  stronger  than  our  own, 
ready  to  hurl  their  heavy  columns  on  our  unprotected  camps,  with  our 
Generals  in  blissful  ignorance  of  their  proximity.  According  to  the 
rebel  reports,  their  line  and  columns  were  in  motion  at  half  past  five 
in  the  morning.  According  to  our  Colonels  report  our  regiment  was  on 
their  Sunday  morning  inspection,  with  no  thought  of  being  attacked. 
Hardee's  corps  was  on  the  right,  Bragg's  in  the  center,  Folk's  on  the 
left,  with  Breckenridge  in  reserve.  Advancing  rapidly,  they  swept  our 
pickets  out  of  the  way,  or  followed  their  heels,  nearly  into  our  camps, 
first  striking  Prentiss,  and,  almost  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  the 
leit  front  of  Sherman's  main  body.  In  an  incredibly  short  time  whole 


4:4  HISTORY    OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

regiments  of  raw  troops  being  surprised,  ran  pell  mell  through  the  re 
serve  lines  to  the  rear  perfectly  demoralized  with  confusion,  and  before 
the  troops  in  rear  could  get  into  position.  There  were  gaps  between 
Sherman,  through  which  the  enemy  came  through  without  encounter 
ing  any  opposition,  succeeding  in  getting  to  our  rear,  creating  the  ut 
most  confusion  and  demoralization,  even  before  General  Grant  got  upon 
the  field  to  direct  the  troops;  he  did  not  start  from  his  headquarters, 
at  Savannah  twelve  miles  below,  until  after  the  battle  was  on  in  all  its 
fury.  Parts  of  the  line  were  held  with  more  tenacity  than  others,  and 
the  battle  raged  from  east  to  west,  regiments  and  brigades  here  giving 
way,  there  holding  back  the  enemy's  advance,  so  the  line  crumbled 
away,  or  fell  back  in  confusion.  Commands  were  seperated  from  one 
another,  which  ought  to  have  fought  side  by  side  and  there  was  an  ut 
ter  want  of  unity  in  the  management.  We  gave  the  rebels  heavy  blows 
here  and  there  stunning  or  retarding  their  lines,  but  as  a  whole  they 
had  advanced  from  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  driving  us  from  posi 
tion,  until  night  we  were  driven  back  to  the  river,  where  we  could  go 
no  farther  and  like  a  tiger  at  bay  we  stood  to  our  guns  and  like  Well 
ington  the  night  before  the  battle  of  Waterloo, who  wished  for  night  and 
Elucher,we  wished  for  night  and  Buell,  which  we  got  and  saved  the  bat 
tle  of  Shiloh  for  the  Union,  as  the  next  morning  Nelson's  Brigade  with 
others  went  to  the  fight  ing  line  followed  by  the  re-organized  troops 
from  the  remnants  of  the  forces  of  the  first  days  battle  and  snatched 
victory  from  defeat. 

After  the  first  day  of  Shiloh,the  rain  fell  in  torrents,which  added  to 
the  discomforts  of  the  harassed  condition  of  the  troops.  The  rest  which 
was  broken  by  discharge  at  measured  intervals  of  heavy  shells  from 
the  gunboats  in  the  river.  Again  and  again  our  troops  were  brought 
forward  to  the  charge.  But  hour  by  hour,thus  opposed  to  the  enemy, 
constantly  reinforced,  invariably  drive  back  the  foe.  No  serious  pur 
suit  was  attempted.  It  also  rained  all  night  thet  night  of  the  7th  and 
the  roads  became  impassible. 

It  is  said  by  a  staff  officer  who  was  trying  to  stop  the  stampede 
to  the  rear  that  he  asked  one  man  who  was  making  a  lively  sprint 
for  the  river, "What  are  you  running  for?"  He  answered,  "Because  I 
can't  fly."  To  another  he  said,  "What  are  you  crying  like  a  baby  for?" 
His  answer  was,  "I  wish  I  was  a  baby,  on  mother's  lap,  and  a  girl 
baby  at  that" 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  45 


CHAPTER    V. 
SHILOH. 

Confederate  Colonel  William  Preston,  Aid-de-camp  to  General 
Johnston,  among  other  things  in  his  official  report  of  the  battle  of 
Shiloh;  dated  April  20th,  18G2,  says: 

"On  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  April  the  rains  were  excessive, 
so  th.at  the  movement  was  retarded,  but  on  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day  our  advance  was  within  three  miles  of  the  enemy,  who  evidently 
did  not  suspect  that  we  were  in  force  in  the  neighborhood." 

Colonel  Jacob  Thompson,  Aid-de-camp  to  General  Beauregard, 
in  his  official  report  says:  "The  order  of  battle  was  drawn  up  and 
ready  for  delivery,  early  on  Thursday  morning,  April  3rd.  On  Friday, 
the  4th,  at  11:15  a.  m.,  General  Beauregard  and  Staff  were  in  the  sad 
dle,  at  two  were  at  Monterey,  six  miles  from  Shiloh."  The  attack 
should  have  been  made  Friday  morning,  but  was  deferred  on  account 
ol  heavy  rains.  Thirteen  of  our  prisoners  were  taken  that  day.  At 
9:30  Friday  morning  fireing  was  heard  on  the  left  of  General  Hardee's 
line.  At  11:40  "eight  volleys  of  musketry  was  heard  in  quick  succes 
sion."  The  whole  army  did  not  take  their  respective  positions  until 
3:00  p.  m.  The  Confederate  troops  slept, on  their  arms,  so  it  was  de 
termined  to  defer  the  attack  until  Sunday  morning." 

Colonel  Preston,  in  his  report  says:  "The  surprise  was  com 
plete.  The  Union  camps  were  captured  between  7:00  and  8:00  o'clock, 
and  its  colors,  arms  and  ammunition  were  abandoned.  The  breakfasts 
of  the  men  were  on  the  table,  the  officers  baggage  and  apparel  left  in 
the  tents,  and  every  evidence  remained  of  unexpected  conflict  and 
sudden  rout." 

On  the  night  after  the  second  days  contest  the  regiment  return 
ed  to  its  camp  and  dr'ew  long  needed  rations  and  rest.  The  tents  how 
ever  were  filled  with  the  wounded  of  both  armies,  so  the  men  had  to 
content  themselves  with  lying  on  the  wet  ground.  On  the  8th  we  went 
reconnoitering  to  the  front  returning  in  the  evening,  in  the  mean 
time  the  sick  and  wounded  had  been  sent  to  the  hospital,  so  we  oc 
cupied  the  tents  again. 

Colonel  Tuttle  commanded  our  brigade  during  the  battle,  as 
Colonel  Lauman  had  been  promoted  to  Brigadier  General  for  gallantry 
at  Ft.  Donaldson  and  had  been  assigned  to  another  Division.  As  Gen 
eral  W.  F.  L.  Wallace,  our  Division  Commander,  was  killed  during 


46  HISTORY    OP    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

the  battle,  Colonel  Tuttle  commanded  the  Division  after  his,  General 
Wallace's,  death. 

General  Tuttle  in  his  official  report  of  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  among 
other  things  says.  "The  Second  Iowa  on  second  day  of  battle,  was  sent 
to  General  Nelson's  Division  and  was  ordered  by  him  to  charge  bayo 
nets  across  a  field  on  the  enemy,  who  were  in  the  woods  beyond,  which 
they  did  in  the  most  gallant  manner."  The  Seventh  Iowa,  under  or 
ders  from  General  Crittenden,  charged  and  captured  one  of  the  enemy's 
batteries."  Among  the  officers  especially  mentioned  for  gallantry  on 
that  occasion,  were  Lieut.  Col.  Parrott  and  Major  Rice,  of  the  Seventh 
Iowa.  The  losses  as  officially  given  in  the  regiment  in  the  two  days 
battle  were:  commissioned  officers  killed,  one;  enlisted  men  ,nine; 
wounded,  seventeen,  and  seven  men  taken  prisoners;  total  thirty-four. 

The  2nd  and  7th  Iowa  on  the  first  day  made  such  stubborn  de 
fense,  holding  their  ground  after  the  rest  of  the  Division  were  taken 
prisoners,  that  that  spot  was  designated  by  the  rebels  as  the  "Hornet's 
Nest,"  which  gave  authority  for  the  name  of  the  society  of  the  "Hor 
nets  Nest  Brigade."  A  sunken  road  and  ravine  prevented  more  severe 
loss  and  enabled  them  to  hold  their  ground  longer  than  the  other  regi 
ments  that  were  taken  prisoners  under  General  Prentiss. 

Fletcher  Johnson  in  giving  a  description  of  Sherman's  doings 
at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  says:  "Let  us  turn  to  the  fate  of  Hurlburt's 
companion  Division — that  of  Brigadier  General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace, 
which  included  the  Second  ^and  Seventh  Iowa,  Ninth  and  Twenty- 
eighth  Illinois,  and  several  other  regiments  of  Maj.  General  Smith's 
old  Division;  with  three  excellent  batteries.  *  *  *  The  fight  began 
about  ten  o'clock,  as  already  described.  From  that  time  until  four 
in  the  afternoon  they  manfully  bore  up.  The  musketry  was  absolutely 
continuous;  there  was  scarcely  a  moment  that  some  part  of  the  line 
was  riot  pouring  in  its  rattling  volleys,  and  artillery  was  admirably 
served  with  but  little  intermission  through  the  entire  time. 

Once  or  twice  the  infantry  advanced,  attempting  to  drive  the 
continually  increasing  enemy,  but  though  they  could  hold  what  they 
had,  their  numbers  were  not  equal  to  the  task  of  conquering  any  more. 
Fo^r  separate  times  the  rebels  attempted  to  turn  to  charge  them. 
Each  time  the  infantry  poured  in  its  quickest  volleys,  the  artillery  re 
doubled  its  exertions,  and  the  rebels  retreated  with  heavy  slaughter. 
The  division  was  eager  to  remain,  even  when  Hurlbut  fell  back,  and 
the  fine  fellows  with  guns  were  particularly  indignant  at  not  being 
permitted  to  pound  away;  but  their  supports  were  gone  on  either  side; 
to  have  remained  in  isolated  advance  would  have  been  madness. 
Just  as  the  necessity  of  retreat  was  becoming  apparent,  General  Wal 
lace,  whose  cool,  collected  bravery,  had  commanded  the  admiration 
of  all,  was  mortally  wounded  and  borne  away  from  the  field.  At  last 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  47 

the  Division  fell  back.  Its  soldiers  claim — justly,  I  believe — the  proud 
distinction  of  being  the  last  to  yield,  in  the  general  break  of  our  lines, 
that  gloomy  Sunday  afternoon,  which  at  half  past  four  o'clock  had 
left  most  of  our  army  within  half  a  mile  of  the  landing,  with  the 
rebels  up  to  a  thousand  yards  of  their  position."  *  *  * 

After  the  battle  Major  Rice  was  promoted  to  Colonel  and  Captain 
McMillen,  of  Co.  "C,"  was  appointed  Major.  Lieut.  Col.  Parrott  was 
assigned  to  command  the  remnants  of  the  8th,  12th  and  14th  Iowa,  and 
the  58th  Ills.,  being  the  convalescents  and  those  who  escaped  being 
taken  prisoners  of  those  regiments  with  General  Prentiss;  all  together 
they  did  not  constitute  as  many  as  the  ordinary  regiment.  They  were 
designated  as  the  "Union  Brigade."  They  fought  against  the  consoli 
dation  and  were  forced  to  submission  by  order  of  General  Davies, 
who  threatened  to  shoot  them  if  they  did  not  submit.  They  were  an 
unruly  mob  and  much  trouble,  until  their  prisoners  were  liberated  and 
the  regiments  were  re-organized. 

General  Grant  was  severely  censured  for  his  generalship  and 
handling  the  army  under  his  command  at  the  battle  and  the  disposi 
tion  of  the  troops.  The  concensus  af  opinion  at  the  time  was  that  he 
was  surprised  and*  unprepared;  in  fact  he  was  relieved  of  his  com 
mand  and  General  Halleck  took  full  charge. 

In  the  battle  of  Shiloh  we  were  in  the  Second  Division,  com 
manded  by  Brig.  General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace,  who  was  mortally  wounded 
the  first  day  of  the  battle,  when  Colonel  J.  M.  Tuttle  of  the  Second 
Iowa,  assumed  command. 

General  Grant's  official  report  of  the  battle  of  Shiloh  gives  a 
total  as  follows:  killed  1,754,  wounded  8,408,  captured  or  missing 
2,885,  total  13,047. 

General  Halleck  arrived  at  Pittsburg  landing  on  the  llth  of 
April  and  immediately  assumed  command  in  the  field.  On  the  21st 
General  Pope  arrived  with  his  army,  30,000  strong,  and  went  into  camp 
at  Hamburg  landing  five  miles  above  Pittsburg.  Halleck  had  now  three 
armies:  the  army  of  the  Ohio,  Buell  commanding;  the  army  of  the 
Tennessee,  and  the  army  of  the  Mississippi,  Pope  commanding.  General 
Thomas  was  given  command  of  the  army  of  Tennessee,  composing  the 
right  wing;  Buell  the  center  and  Pope  the  left  wing,  with  McClernand 
the  reserve  with  the  remnants  of  his  old  Division  and  Lew  Wallace's. 

General  Grant  was  again  under  a  cloud,  relieved  from  com 
mand  and  says  himself  in  his  memoirs:  "For  myself  I  was  little 
more  than  an  observer.  Orders  were  sent  direct  to  the  right  wing  or 
reserve,  ignoring  me.  My  position  was  so  embarressing  in  fact  that  I 
made  several  applications  during  the  siege  to  be  relieved."  *  .*.  *  "I 
was  ignored  as  much  as  if  I  had  been  at  the  most  distant  point  of  ter 
ritory  of  my  jurisdiction;  and  although  I  was  in  command  of  all  en- 


48  HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

gaged  at  Shiloh  I  was  not  permitted  to  see  one  of  the  reports  of  Gen 
eral  Buell  or  his  subordinates  in  that  battle,  until  they  were  pub 
lished  by  the  War  Department  long  after  the  event." 

After  the  physical  and  mental  strain  incident  to  the  excitement 
and  strenuous  exertions  of  the  battle,  together  with  the  inclement 
weather  and  discomforts  of  exposure  and  lack  of  proper  food  and  pro 
tection  from  the  elements  there  was  a  reaction,  which  the  dreary 
weather  enhanced,  so  that  there  was  much  sickness  and  suffering,  with 
no  proper  places  to  care  for  the  wounded  or  sick,  so  they  were  loaded 
on  transports  and  sent  north  to  hospitals  and  places  where  there  were 
buildings  to  house  them.  Pittsburg  landing  was  nothing  but  a  ham 
let,  with  landing  without  docks,  with  steep,  slippery  banks,  up  which 
all  supplies  for  the  army,  including  forage  for  stock,  had  to  be  carried 
on  the  backs  of  the  men,  causing  heavy  details  of  all  the  well  men, 
most  of  the  time  for  such  drudgery  and  fatiguing  duty.  These  priva 
tions  and  duty  produced  a  serious  effect  on  the  health  of  the  troops, 
and  dysentery  and  malaria  of  a  threatening  type  prevailed  among  the 
officers  and  men.  This  was  enhanced  by  the  unwholesome  water  and  the 
impure  atmosphere  from  the  gases  arising  from  the  decomposition  of 
the  killed  men  and  animals,  which  were  buried  among  the  camps 
with  such  shallow  covering  that  limbs  protruded  from  many  pits. 
These  causes  had  the  effect  of  depleting  the  army  to  an  alarming  ex 
tent,  so  they  laid  in  wait  in  camp  for  rest,  recuperation  and  for  the 
accumulation  of  supplies,  for  a  forward  movement  until  the  27th.  In 
the  meantime  the/roads  leading  to  Corinth,  were  bridged  corduroyed  * 
by  the  engineer  corps  mith  heavy  details  from  the  ranks  of  the  regi 
ments. 

COLONEL  PARROTT'S  REPORT. 

Head  Quarters  7th  Regiment  Iowa  Infantry, 
Pittsburg,  Tenn.,  April  10th,  1862. 

Sir:  In  compliance  with  your  order,  dated  April  8th,  18G2,  I  have 
the  honor  herewith  to  make  a  report  of  the  part  taken  by  the  Seventh 
Regiment  Iowa  Infantry  in  the  battle  of  Pittsburg,  Tenn.,  on  April 
6th,  7th  and  8th. 

On  the  morning  of  the  6th  at  8:00  o'clock,  I  received  your  or 
der  to  hold  the  regiment  in  readiness  for  a  forward  movement,  the 
rebels  having  attacked  our  outposts.  The  regiment  was  formed  im 
mediately,  and  at  about  9:00  a.  m.  it  was  ordered  to  move  forward 
and  It  took  position  on  the  left  of  the  Second  Iowa  Infantry.  It  then 
moved  forward  by  the  flank  until  within  a  short  distance  of  the  ad 
vancing  rebels,  where  it  was  thrown  into  line  of  battle,  being  In  heavy 
timber,  when  it  advanced  to  the  edge  of  a  field,  from  which  position 
we  got  a  view  of  a  portion  of  the  rebel  forces.  I  ordered  my  men  to 
lie  down  and  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  resist  any  attack,  which 


COL.    J.    ('.    PARROTT, 
Seventh  Iowa  Infantry. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  49 

they  did,  and  remained  in  that  position  until  ordered  to  fall  back  at 
about  5:00  p.  m.;  holding  the  rebels  in  check  and  retaining  every  inch 
of  ground  it  had  gained  in  the  morning,  being  all  the  time  under  a 
galling  fire  of  cannister,  grape  and  shell,  which  did  considerable  exe 
cution  in  our  ranks,  killing  several  of  my  men  and  wounding  others. 
The  regiment  when  ordered  back  fell  back  in  good  order  and  passed 
through  a  galling  fire  from  the  enemy.  When  it  gained  cover  of  the 
timber  it  rallied  in  good  style  and  helped  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check 
for  some  time,  when  it  was  again  ordered  to  fall  back  upon  the  main 
river  road,  and  there  bivouacked  for  the  night,  exposed  to  a  heavy 
rain  of  several  hours  duration. 

On  Monday  morning,  the  7th,  I  was  so  completely  stiffened  by 
fatigue  and  exposure  that  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  advance  with 
the  regiment,  but  I  knew  it  was  placed  in  good  hands  when  I  turned  the 
command  over  to  Major  Rice,  who  led  them  that  day  to  the  enemy's 
stronghold,  and  from  him  I  was  proud  to  learn  that  it  did  its  duty 
unflinchingly  not  only  against  the  rebels,  but  in  keeping  many  of  our 
troops  from  falling  back  and  leaving  the  field  in  disorder.  At  night 
the  regiment  returned  to  camp  and  for  the  first  time  in  two  days  had 
warm  food  and  good  nights  rest. 

On  Tuesday  morning  I  again  moved  the  regiment  forward  about 
two  miles  and  remained  in  line  all  day,  not  getting  in  sight  or  hearing 
of  the  enemy.  At  night  it  returned  to  camp  in  good  order. 

In  conclusion  I  am  proud  to  say,  that  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
Seventh  Iowa  Volunteers,  with  a  few  exceptions,  did  their  duty  nobly 
and  sustained  the  proud  position  won  for  it  on  former  occasions  of 
which  our  State  may  feel  proud.  The  delinquents,  although  few,  will 
be  strictly  dealt  with  according  to  the  Articles  of  War. 

Our  casualities  are  as  follows:  One  Lieutenant  and  ten  privates 
killed;  17  wounded  and  six  privates  missing;  making  a  total  of  34 
killed,  wounded  and  missing. 

J.  C.  PARROTT. 
Lieut.  Col.  Commanding  7th  Iowa  Infty. 

To  Colonel  J.  M.  Tuttle, 

Commanding  First  Brigade  2nd  Division. 

General  Grant  had  been  relieved  from  command  most  of  the  time 
during  the  month  of  March  on  some  trumped  up  charges  made  by 
General  Halleck  who  could  not  sustain  them  at  Washington  so  he 
was  restored  to  his  command  again  on  the  13th  of  March 

REPORT  OF  GENERAL  BEAUREGARD. 

Corinth,  Miss.,  April  9,  1862. 

Sir:  In  consequence  of  information  brought  from  General  Cheat- 
ham  on  Wednesday,  April  3,  that  the  enemy  was  marching  in  force 


50  HISTORY   OP   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

along  the  Purdy  road  from  Pittsburg,  it  was  decided  by  yourself, 
General  Johnson,  and  General  Bragg  to  take  up  the  line  of  march  for 
the  enemy's  camp  situated  2^  miles  west  of  the  Tennessee  river, 
about  equidistant  between  Owl  and  Lick  creeks,  on  the  Pittsburg  road. 

The  order  of  battle  was  drawn  up  and  ready  for  delivery  early 
on  Thursday  morning,  and  tfie  corps  of  Major-General  Hardee  was  on 
the  Ridge  road  from  Corinth  to  Pittsburg  by  12  o'clock.  It  was  soon 
followed  by  the  corps  of  General  Bragg. 

On  Friday,  the  4th,  at  11:15  a.  m.,  General  Beauregard  and  staff 
were  in  the  saddle  and  moved  forward  by  the  Monterey  road,  and  ar 
rived  at  Monterey  at  2:30  o'clock,  where  a  large  number  of  the  troops 
were  overtaken,  and  also  Generals  Johnston  and  Bragg. 

Thirteen  prisoners  were  brought  in  during  the  evening. 

The  whole  army  was  under  orders  to  move  forward  at  3  a.  m. 
next  day  and  form  a  line  of  battle  in  advance  of  the  divergence  of  the 
Bark  and  Pittsburg  roads. 

General  Johnston  and  yourself  slept  Friday  night  at  Monterey. 

During  the  night  there  was  a  heavy  fall  of  rain.  Soon  after  light 
the  clouds  began  to  break,  and  before  sunrise  General  Johnston  and 
yourself,  with  your  respective  staffs,  moved  forward  along  the  road 
leading  by  the  Mickey  house.  As  we  approached  this  latter  place  it 
was  evident,  frotn  the  large  number  of  troops  found  drawn  up  on  each 
side  of  the  road,  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  form  all  the  different 
divisions  in  battle  array  at  an  early  hour.  As  we  pased  General  Bragg 
beyond  the  Mickey  house  the  order  was  given  for  a  forward  movement, 
and  you  and  General  Johnston  proceeded  to  a  point  on  the  Pittsburg 
road,  beyond  the  fork  of  the  Pittsburg  and  Bark,  or  Hamburg  roads. 
On  reaching  them  it  was  ascertained  that  Major-General  Hardee's 
corps  was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  Pitts 
burg  road,  about  half  a  mile  beyond  the  place  you  halted.  Knowing 
that  you  were  not  far  from  the  camp  of  the  enemy,  there  was  a  momen 
tary  expectation  of  conflict. 

At  9:30  o'clock  firing  was  heard  on  the  left  of  General  Hardee's 
line;  but  it  lasted  only  a  moment,  and  was  therefore  supposed  to  be 
from  our  own  troops. 

At  11:00  a.  m.  there  had  been  fired  eight  volleys  of  musketry  in 
quick  succession  on  the  right  of  General  Hardee's  line,  which  induced 
a  general  expectation  that  the  combat  was  about  to  begin. 

About  'this  time  General  Hardee  came  forward  and  pressed  you 
to  ride  along  his  line,  that  the  men  might  be  satisfied  that  you  were 
actually  in  the  field.  You  accepted  his  invitation,  and  after  reviewing 
his  whole  line  you  returned  with  your  staff  to  your  temporary  head 
quarters  and  awaited  the  coming  up  of  the  Reserve  Corps,  commanded 
by  General  Polk. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  51 

The  whole  army  did  not  reach  their  respective  positions  till  past 
3  o'clock,  when,  upon  consultation,  it  was  determined  to  postpone  a 
further  forward  movement  until  morning.  The  troops  slept  on  their 
arms,  and  the  front  lines  were  allowed  no  fires,  although  the  night 
was  quite  chilly. 

Next  morning  (Sunday,  the  6th)  the  sky  was  without  a  cloud 
and  the  sun  arose  in  cheering  brilliancy. 

About  5  a.  m.  the  first  firing  was  heard  in  the  center,  down  the 
Pittsburg  road.  In  less  than  three  minutes  firing  was  heard  on  the 
left.  Intermittent  firing  in  the  center  and  on  the  right  until  6:05 
o'clock. 

At  6:30  o'clock  I  brought  an  order  from  you  to  General  Brecken- 
ridge,  who  commanded  the  reserve,  that  he  must  hurry  up  his  troops, 
inasmuch  as  General  Polk  was  moving  forward,  which  was  promptly 
delivered  and  promptly  obeyed. 

Soon  after  this  General  Johnson  called  on  you  and  expressed 
himself  satisfied  with  the  manner  in  which  the  battle  had  been  opened. 
The  greatest  enthusiasm  prevailed  both  with  officers  and  men.  When 
you  established  your  headquarters  on  the  high  point  between  the  Pitts- 
burg  and  Hamburg  roads  heavy  firing  was  heard  on  our  right.  The 
first  cannon  was  discharged  on  our  left  at  7  o'clock,  which  was  followed 
by  a  rapid  discharge  of  musketry. 

About  7:30  o'clock"  I  rode  forward  with  Colonel  Jordan  to  the 
front,  to  ascertain  how  the  battle  was  going.  There  I  learned  from 
General  Johnston  that  General  Hardee's  line  was  within  half  a  mile  of 
the  enemy's  camps,  and  bore  from  General  Johnston  a  message  that 
he  advised  the  sending  forward  strong  reinforcements  to  our  left,  as 
he  had  just  then  been  advised  that  the  enemy  was  there  in  great  force. 

Under  this  advice  two  of  General  Breckenridge's  brigades  were 
started  to  the  support  of  the  left;  but  before  he  had  proceeded  far  I 
bore  a  message  to  General  Breckenridge  to  send  but  one  brigade,  and 
to  order  forward  two  brigades  towards  Lick  Creek,  on  the  right.  This 
change  was  made  in  consequence  of  information  brought  by  a  carrier 
that  the  enemy  was  not  strong  on  our  left  and  had  fallen  back. 

From  8  to  8:30  o'clock  the  cannonading  was  very  heavy  along 
the  whole  line,  but  especially  in  the  center,  which  was  in  the  line  of 
their  camps. 

Soon  after  General  Breckenridge  moved  down  the  Bark  road  to 
the  right  a  courier  arrived,  bringing  the  information  that  the  Boiling 
and  Turner  Fords,  on  Lick  Creek,  were  unmolested. 

About  10  o'clock  you  moved  forward  with  your  staff  and  halted 
within  about  half  a  mile  of  their  camps,  at  which  time  our  troops  were 
reported  to  be  in  full  possession  of  the  enemy's  camps.  Here  we  met 
large  numbers  of  wounded  and  stragglers  from  the  ranks.  Immediately 


52  HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA    ^ 

your  whole  staff  was  ordered  to  rally  the  stragglers  and  send  them 
forward  to  their  regiments.  I  was  charged  with  the  duty  of  hurrying 
forward  the  ammunition  wagons  to  a  safe  point  immediately  in  the  rear 
of  our  lines  engaged  in  the  conflict.  I  succeeded  in  carrying  forward 
several  loads  of  ammunition  beyond  the  first  encampment  of  the  enemy 
to  a  point  of  safety  just  outside  the  firing.  After  passing  over  the 
second  ridge,  where  the  conflict  was  maintained  with  the  greatest  in 
tensity,  I  observed  the  enemy  was  gradually  giving  back  before  the 
galling  fire  of  an  impetuous  infantry.  I  returned  to  your  quarters,  and 
found  you  had  moved  up  to  the  old  house  on  the  ridge  where  we  first 
entered  the  encampment  of  the  enemy.  On  my  return  I  observed  a 
regiment  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  in  the  hollow  west  of  the  second 
ridge.  I  rode  up  to  the  regiment  and  inquired  why  they  remained 
there  idle  while  our  brave  companions  were  hotly  contesting  every  inch 
of  ground  so  near  them  and  needed  assistance.  An  officer  stepped  for 
ward  whom  I  took  to  be  a  captain  and  said,  with  great  emotion,  that 
they  had  no  officers,  and  that  he  did  not  know  what  to  do.  I  requested 
him  to  remain  in  his  position  a  few  minutes,  keeping  his  men  in  line, 
and  I  would  inform  General  Beauregard  of  his  condition,  who  I  had  no 
doubt  would  send  him  an  officer. 

Upon  informing  you  of  the  situation  of  this  regiment  you  im 
mediately  assigned  the  command  of  this  regiment  to  Colonel  Augustin, 
a  member  of  your  staff,  and  I  was  directed  to  return  with  him  and  in 
troduce  him  to  the  regiment.  When  we  arrived  at  the  place  where  I 
had  left  them  I  found  they  had  gone  and  saw  nothing  more  of  them. 

About  2  o'clock  you  moved  forward  along  the  Pittsburg  road  to 
the  third  encampment,  where  the  road  takes  a  direct  eastern  direction. 
Here  we  came  within  range  of  the  enemy's  fire,  and  remained  there 
some  half  an  hour.  One  regiment  (Colonel  Smith's)  passed  you  in  the 
finest  spirits,  cheering  their  general  as  they  went.  The  cheering  at 
tracted  the  notice  of  the  enemy,  and  he  directed  a  heavy  fire  directly  to 
the.  point  whre  you  stood.  Under  your  orders  I  advanced  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  firing,  rallying  the  stragglers,  which  were  marched  in  dou 
ble-file,  and,  after  overtaking  Colonel  Smith's  regiment,  ordered  them 
to  fall  in  and  go  on  with  him. 

After  remaining  at  this  point  some  time  I  came  back  with  you  to 
the  hospital,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  the  evening  in  aiding  to  col 
lect  stragglers,  for  the  purpose  of  sending  them  forward,  visiting  the 
different  tents  and  appointing  guards  for  the  more  valuable  of  them. 
In  the  evening,  toward  sundown,  a  large  number  of  prisoners  was 
brought  in  and  the  day  was  declared  to  be  ours. 

April  7,  at  8.07  o'clock,  heavy  firing  was  heard  on  our  right,  and 
news  was  brought  to  General  Beauregard  that  the  enemy  was  in  great 
force.  Previous  to  which,  however,  he  had  learned  that  the  enemy  was 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY 


53 


in  force  on  our  left,  and  he  had  sent  in  that  direction  a  large  support 
ing  force.  The  battle  raged  furiously  for  four  hours,  and  the  enemy 
was  completely  silenced  on  the  right  and  in  the  center. 

About  11:30  o'clock  it  was  apparent  that  the  enemy's  main  attack 
was  on  our  left,  and  our  forces  began  to  yield  to  the  vigor  of  his  at 
tack.  Stragglers  in  great  numbers  came  in,  and  although  great  and 
unremitting  efforts  were  made  to  rally  them  yet  the  complaint  of  ex 
haustion  was  such  that  it  was  impossible  to  rally  them  only  to  a  lim 
ited  extent.  The  fire  and  animation  had  left  our  troops. 

While  I  was  engaged  in  rallying  our  disorganized  troops  to  the 
left  and  rear  of  the  church,  you  seized  the  banners  of  two  different 
regiments  and  led  them  forward  to  the  assault  in  face  of  the  fire  of  the 
enemy;  but  from  the  feebleness  of  the  response  I  became  convinced 
that  our  troops  were  too  much  exhausted  to  make  a  vigorous  resist 
ance.  I  rode  up  to  you  and  advised  that  you  should  expose  yourself  no 
further,  but  should  dispose  your  troops  so  as  to  retire  from  Shiloh 
Church  in  good  order. 

In  front  of  the  church  our  troops  gradually  gave  ground,  and, 
upon  observing  a  regiment  in  the  bottom,  near  the  church,  you  fell 
back,  and  placed  them  in  position  to  receive  the  advancing  columns 
of  the  enemy. 

After  placing  this  regiment  in  position,  you,  with  a  portion  of 
your  staff,  retired  to  a  ridge  on  this  side  of  the  camp,  planted  several 
pieces  of  cannon,  and  drew  up  a  brigade  in  that  commanding  position. 
The  forces  being  here  disposed  of,  you  fell  back  to  the  Wood  house  and 
planted,  in  front  of  the  house  in  the  open  ground,  another  battery.  We 
then  came  to  the  high  ground  which  overlooks  the  Pittsburg  and  Ham 
burg  roads,  where  General  Breckenridge  was  found  in  force;  after 
which  we  returned  to  Monterey,  and  thence,  on  Monday  evening,  to 
Corinth. 

During  the  day  of  Monday  I  bore  several  orders  to  different  com 
manders,  but  in  the  excitement  I  failed  to  note  the  hour  of  their  deliv 
ery,  and  therefore  omit  any  notice  of  them. 

With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  THOMPSON,  Aide-de-Camp. 
GENERAL  G.  T.  BEAUREGARD. 

REPORT  OF  GENERAL  JOHNSTON. 

Corinth,  Miss.,  April  20,  1862. 

General:     This  morning  you  requested  me  to  give  you  such  in 
formation  as  I  possess-  in  relation  to  the  events  which  occurred  at  the 
battle  of  Shiloh  before  the  death  of  the  commander,  General  Johnston. 
The  general  having  determined  to  attack  the  enemy,  near  Pitts- 
burg,  on  the  Tennessee  River,  moved  the  forces  under  his  command 


54  HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

through  Monterey  and  by  a  farm  house  called  Mickey's,  in  the  direc 
tion  of  a  little  country  chapel  called  Shiloh,  in  the  vicinity  of  which 
they  were  encamped.  On  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  April  the  rains  were 
excessive,  so  that  the  movement  was  greatly  retarded,  but  on  the  af 
ternoon  of  the  same  day  our  advance  was  within  three  miles  of  the 
enemy,  who  evidently  did  not  suspect  that  we  were  in  force  in  the 
neighborhood. 

Strong  reasons  demanded  an  immediate  attack,  as  delay  increas 
ed  the  danger  of  discovery,  but  the  exhaustion  of  the  men  and  the  hour 
of  arrival  required  it  to  be  deferred  till  the  following  morning.  Men 
and  officers  bivouacked  for  the  night 

The  morning  of  the  6th  of  April  was  remarkably  bright  and 
beautiful.  The  country  toward  Shiloh  was  wooded  with  small  fields 
interspersed  and  with  bold  undulations  from  the  hills  bounding  the 
river.  The  troops  moved  in  two  parallel  lines  with  the  brigades  under 
General  Breckenridge  arranged  on  either  side  of  the  wood  as  a  re 
serve. 

Between  dawn  and  sunrise  sharp  skirmishing  was  heard  rather 
more  than  half  a  mile  in  advance  in  the  forest.  General  Johnston  rode 
forward  when  we  found  the  action  commenced  by  General  Hindman's 
brigade  which  was  suffering  under  a  heavy  fire.  There  were  many 
dead  and  wounded  and  some  stragglers  breaking  ranks  whom  General 
Johnston  rallied  in  person.  I  rode  forward  and  found  General  Hind- 
man  rallying  and  animating  his  men  who  were  advancing  towards  the 
camp.  General  Johnston  then,  through  me,  ordered  General  Bragg, 
who  was  half  a  mile  in  the  rear,  to  advance,  but  it  had  been  anticipat 
ed,  and  the  order,  having  been  given  by  Captain  Wickliffe  ten  minutes 
before,  waa  being  executed.  Our  forces  then  entered  the  enemy's 
camp  under  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery. 

Passing  to  the  left,  General  Johnston  reconnoitered,  from  two 
cabins  at  the  edge  of  a  field  of  about  150  acres,  the  position  of  the 
enemy  in  front.  This  field  extended  toward  the  river  and  beyond  was 
fringed  with  a  woodland,  and  200  or  300  yards  beyond  was  the  enemy's 
camp.  Through  this  field  General  Cleburne's  brigade  moved  in  fine  or 
der,  with  loud  and  inspiring  cheers  to  attack  the  camp.  The  surprise 
was  complete.  It  was  carried  between  7  and  8  o'clock,  and  its  colors, 
arms,  stores,  and  ammunition  were  abandoned.  The  breakfasts  of  the 
men  were  on  the  table,  the  officers'  baggage  and  apparel  left  in  the 
tents  and  every  evidence  remained  of  unexpected  conflict  and  sudden 
rout.  It  was  ocupied  as  I  learned  from  the  wounded  and  dying  and 
from  the  colors  taken  by  some  troops  from  Wisconsin. 

During  this  time  heavy  continued  musketry  and  artillery  fire, 
with  receding  sounds,  attested  the  steady  advance  of  Gens.  Bragg  and 
Hardee  on  the  center  and  left.  General  Hardee  reported  in  person  to 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  55 

General  Johnston  about  9  o'clock  at  the  Wisconsin  camp  and  they  re- 
connoitered  a  second  line  of  camps  600  or  800  yards  farther  on  in  the 
direction  of  the  river.  The  enemy  then,  apparently  attracted  by  the 
staff  commenced  shelling  the  camp  where  we  stood,  and  some  heavy 
gunboat  shells  burst  over  us.  At  the  same  time  the  enemy  deployed 
their  forces  in  the  wood  near  the  advanced  camp.  Captain  Lockett, 
about  half  past  9  or  10,  sent  a  report  that  the  enemy  were  strongly 
posted  on  the  left.  General  Johnston  then  determined  to  order  for 
ward  the  reserve,  under  General  Breckenridge,  to  the  right,  so  as  to 
force  and  turn  the  enemy's  left.  Captain  Wickliffe  and  I  were  ordered 
to  Indicate  the  positions  to  General  Breckenridge.  General  Johnston 
joined  Bowen's  brigade.  The  movement  was  masked  by  the  forest  and 
the  troops  moved  so  as  to  occupy  a  position  oblique  to  the  general  line, 
and  extending  eastward  to  the  river,  in  en  echelon  of  brigades,  with 
Chalmers',  and  Statham's  800  yards  in  rear  of  Bowen's.  Statham's  bri 
gade  was  then  moved  forward,  and  at  about  12  o'clock  or  12:30  it 
occupied  the  point  of  the  hill  so  as  to  attack  the  advanced  camp.  Meet 
ing  you,  we  found  it  halted,  and,  after  consulting  a  moment  with  me  as 
to  the  importance  of  immediate  advance,  you  put  it  in  motion  against 
the  camp,  and  Rutlidge's  battery  was  put  in  position  at  the  same  time 
on  an  adjacent  hill. 

Riding  back  toward  the  advanced  camp,  I  found  Breckenridge's 
men  entering  it  and  engaging  with  the  enemy.  Turning  down  the  ra 
vine,  I  reported  the  condition  of  affairs  to  General  Johnston.  This  was 
between  1  and  2  o'clock.  He  was  with  Bowen's  brigade,  and  ordered 
me  to  direct  General  Bowen  to  ground  on  which  he  could  deploy  and 
support  Breckenridge,  who  I  understood  was  with  Statham's  brigade 
in  the  enemy's  camp.  This  was  done,  and  General  Johnston  advanced 
with  Bowen's  brigade  in  person.  He  directed  me  then  to  bring  over 
Rutlidge's  battery,  which  I  did,  to  the  opposite  field  . 

In  the  meantime  Breckenridge  was  hotly  engaged  and  Bowen's 
brigade  vigorously  supporting  him.  Riding  forward  in  the  direction 
of  the  enemy's  fire,  I  halted  at  the  flank  of  the  Washington  Battery, 
I  believe,  of  New  Orleans,  then  actively  served  and  engaged  with  the 
enemy.  Two  small  cabins  were  near,  and  from  a  ravine  about  100 
yards  to  the  north  of  the  cabins,  where  I  was,  Colonel  O'Hara  rode,  in 
forming  me  that  General  Johnston  was  wounded  and  lying  in  a  ravine. 
He  conducted  me  to  the  spot,  and  went  for  a  surgeon,  whom  he  could 
not  obtain  until  too  late. 

Descending  the  ravine  I  found  the  general  lying  on  the  ground 
and  near  his  head  Governor  Harris,  of  Tennessee,  and  only  one  or  two 
other  persons.  He  had  neither  escort  or  surgeon  near  him  His  horse 
was  wounded  and  bleeding.  He  breathed  for  a  few  minutes  after  my 
arrival,  but  did  not  recognize  me.  I  searched  but  found  no  wound  up- 


56  HISTORY    OP   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

•  I 

on  his  body.  I  attempted  to  revive  him,  but  he  expired  without  pain  a 
few  minutes  after,  and  about  fifteen  minutes  after  he  received  his 
death  wound. 

Immediate  information  of  the  fact  was  transmitted  by  me  through 
his  volunteer  aide-de-camp,  Governor  Harris,  to  General.  Beauregard. 
His  remains  were  taken  to  his  camp  and  left  in  charge  of  a  friend,  Mr. 
Throckmorton,  and  Captain  Wickham.  The  other  gentlemen  of  the 
staff  reported  to  General  Beauregard  for  service  and  remained  until  the 
close  of  the  day  when  his  body  was  taken  by  them  to  New  Orleans. 

General  Johnston  died  at  half  past  2  o'clock  the  artery  of  his 
right  leg  having  been  severed  by  a  ball.  He  was  also  struck  by  two 
other  balls,  and  his  horse  was  wounded  twice. 

During  the  day  General  Johnston  was  actively  and  efficiently  as 
sisted  by  Colonel  Gilmer,  his  chief  engineer;  Captain  Brewster,  assist 
ant  adjutant-general;  Capt.  N.  Wickliffe,  assistant  adjutant-general; 
Lieutenants  Jack  and  Baylor,  aides-de-camp;  Captain  O'Hara,  assist 
ant  inspector-general,  Maj.  Albert  J.  Smith,  quartermaster,  Captain 
Wickham,  assistant  quartermaster,  and  by  Surg.  D.  W.  Yandell,  who 
was  with  him  in  the  morning. 

Governor  Harris,  of  Tennessee,  and  Messrs.  E.  W.  Munford,  D.  M. 
Hayden,  Calhoun  Benham,  and  myself  served  as  volunteer  aides-de 
camp  during  the  day. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  PRESTON. 


I  think  the  men  with  the  musket  at  the  front  observed  things 
as  they  were  and  to  each  other  can  talk  plainly  without  fear  of  suffer 
ing  among  themselve  for  their  frankness;  there  has  been  too  much  of 
a  disposition  to  forgive  and  condone  acts  and  things  done  that  amount 
ed  to  criminal  negligence  and  cowardice;  sometimes  officers  in  high 
command  refused  to  give  aid  when  they  could  and  it  was  sorely  need 
ed  for  jealousy;  sacrifice  thousands  of  lives  rather  than  render  as 
sistance  for  fear  others  would  get  credit  for  the  victory.  Fitz  John 
Porter  was  a  frightful  example  of  this  kind,  after  being  found  guilty 
of  cowardice  or  treason  by  a  court  martial  he  was  restored  to  rank 
and  back  pay  of  a  Major  General,  a  generation  after  the  crime  was 
committed  and  all  were  dead  that  knew  anything  of  the  circumstances. 
Those  who  fought  the  first  day  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  thought  then 
that  Wallace  might  have  rendered  valuable  assistance,  had  he  chose 
to  do  so.  Official  investigations  and  reports  made  at  the  time  proved 
this  beyond  dispute;  yet  he  has  by  his  persistence  been  able  to  official 
ly  make  himself  right  on  the  record,  but  not  with  the  man  behind  the 
gun.  Could  the  readers  of  this  book  see  the  modifications  and  oblit- 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  57 

erations  in  the  personal  diaries  that  I  have  made  before  going  into 
the  printers  hands  and  read  official  reports  made  at  the  time,  when  all 
facts  were  before  them,  as  I  have  done  they  would  be  convinced  of  these 
facts  as  I  have  been. 

If  Buell  was  criticised  for  not  being  on  hand  sooner;  how  much 
more  so  should  Wallace  be,  as  the  former  had  the  flooded  Tennessee 
to  cross  and  was  twelve  miles  away  when  the  battle  opened;  while 
Wallace  was  only  six. 

Grant  heard  the  battle  open  when  at  Savannah  12  miles  away, 
while  eating  his  breakfast.  He  left  it,  boarded,  his  dispatch  boat  and 
hurried  to  the  fray,  stopping  on  the  way  to  tell  Wallace  to  be  ready 
to  move  at  a  moments  notice.  Wallace  said  he  had  his  trains  parked 
at  Crumps  landing  and  was  ready  to  move  then.  As  soon  as  Grant 
arrived  at  Pittsburg  he  at  once  sent  Capt.  Baxter  of  his  staff  to  hurry 
Wallace  forward.  He  notified  him  at  8:30.  Wallace  stood  on  a 
technicality,  claiming  a  written  order  before  he  would  move.  Again 
Grant  sent  Col.  McPherson,  who  was  then  an  aid  on  his  staff,  found 
him  lost  in  the  woods,  got  him  started  right,  when  he  insisted  on 
stopping  for  an  hours  nooning  and  getting  his  dinner,  allowing  his 
command  to  do  the  same;  the  result  was  he  never  got  there  until  the 
battle  of  the  first  day  was  over. 

He  claims  different  things.  But  he  has  made  his  reputation  as 
a  writer  of  fiction,  probably  from  his  experience  in  his  attempts  to 
explain  his  absence  from  the  battle  of  Shiloh  when  so  sorely  needed; 
at  least  his  men  were. 

General  Grant  gives  as  a  reason  for  not  fortifying,  that  he  re 
garded  the  campaign  as  an  offensive  one  and  had  no  idea  that  the 
enemy  would  leave  strong  intrenchments  at  Corinth  to  take  the  in 
itiative  when  he  knew  he  would  be  attacked  where  he  was  if  he  re 
mained. 

General  .Grant  in  his  official  reports,  denounced  General  Lew 
Wallace  for  his  dilatory  movements  and  lack  of  support  on  the  first 
day  of  Shiloh  and  thought  there  was  no  excuse  for  not  coming  as  or 
dered  to  his  assistance. 

Following  are  extracts  from  official  reports  made  at  the  time. 
General  Grant  says:  "Sent  two  more  of  my  staff,  Col.  McPherson  and 
Capt.  Rowley,  for  Wallace  at  1:00  p.  m.  The  road  that  Wallace  might 
have  taken  from  Crump's  landing  was  direct  and  near  the  river.  Be 
tween  Crump's  landing  and  Pittsburg  landing  a  bridge  had  been 
built  over  across  Snake  Creek  by  our  troops,  at  which  Wallace's  com 
mand  had  assisted,  expressly  to  enable  the  troops  at  the  two  places  to 
support  each  other  in  case  of  need;  so  there  was  no  excuse  for  Wal 
lace  getting  lost  in  going  a  distance  of  five  miles. 


58  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

Headquarters  Department  of  the  Tennessee, 

Before  Vicksburg  April  13,  1863. 
COL.  J.  C.  KELTON, 

Assistant  Adjudant-General,  Washington,  D..  C.: 

Colonel:  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  a  copy  of 
a  communication  of  Maj.  Gen.  Lewis  Wallace  to  Major-General  Hal- 
leek,  of  date  of  March  14,  1863,  relative  to  his  failure  to  participate  in 
the  first  day's  fight  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  submitted  to  me  for  my 
remarks. 

Instead  of  making  a  detailed  report  myself  in  answer  to  said  com 
munication  I  called  upon  Maj.  Gen.  J.  B.  McPherson,  Lieut.  Col.  John 
A.  Rawlins,  and  Maj.  W.  R.  Rowley,  all  of  whom  were  members  of  my 
staff  at  that  time  and  were  cognizant  of  the  facts  for  their  statements 
in  reference  to  the  same,  and  these  I  herewith  respectfully  transmit. 

All  these  reports  are  substantially  as  I  remember  the  facts.  I 
vouch  for  their  almost  entire  accuracy;  and  'from  these  several  state 
ments,  separate  and  independent  of  each  other,  too,  a  more  correct 
judgment  can  be  derived  than  from  a  single  report. 

Had  General  Wallace  been  relieved  from  duty  in  the  morning, 
and  the  same  orders  communicated  to  Brig.  Gen.  Morgan  L.  Smith 
(who  would  have  been  his  successor),  I  do  not  doubt  but  the  division 
would  have  been  on  the  field  of  battle  and  in  the  engagement  befor  10 
o'clock  of  that  eventful  6th  of  April.  There  is  no  estimating  the  differ 
ence  this  might  have  made  in  our  casualities. 

I  am,  Colonel,  very  respecfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

U.  S.  GRANT, 
Major-General,  Volunteers. 
Galena,  April  4,  1863. 
COL.  JOHN  A.  RAWLINS, 

Assistant  Adjutant-General: 

Colonel:  Yours,  requesting  a  statement  as  to  my  knowledge  of 
the  part  taken  by  General  Lewis  Wallace  in  the  first  day's  fight  at  the 
battle  of  Shiloh,  on  the  6th  of  April,  1862,  is  just  received. 

In  reply,  I  would  state  that  at  that  time  I  was  an  aide-de-camp 
on  the  staff  of  General  U.  S.  Grant,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  6th  of  April  I  accompanied  the  general,  together 
with  the  other  members  of  the  staff,  from  Savannah  to  Pittsburg  land 
ing.  When  the  steamer  upon  which  we  embarked  arrived 
near  to  Crump's  Landing  General  Grant  directed  that  it  should  be  run 
close  in  to  the  shore,  as  he  wished  to  communicate  with  General  Wal 
lace,  who  was  standing"  upon  the  commisary  boat  lying  at  that  place. 
General  Grant  called  to  General  Wallace,  saying,  "General,  you  will 
get  your  troops  under  arms  immediately,  and  have  them  ready  to  move 
at  a  moment's  notice."  General  Wallace  replied  that  it  should  be  done, 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  59 

adding  (I  think)  that  the  necessary  orders  had  already  been  given. 
This  was  between  the  hours  of  7  and  8  o'clock  a.  m.  We  passed  on  up 
the  river,  meeting  the  steamer  Warner,  which  had  been  sent  by  Gen 
eral  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  (as  I  understood)  with  a  messenger  to  inform 
General  Grant  that  a  battle  had  been  commenced.  The  Warner  round 
ed  to  and  followed  us  back  to  Pittsburg  Landing. 

Upon  reaching  the  Landing  General  Grant  immediately  mounted 
his  horse  and  rode  upon  the  bank,  and  after  conversing  a  moment 
with  some  officers  turned  to  Captain  Baxter,  assistant  quartermaster, 
and  ordered  him  to  proceed  immediately  to  Crump's  Landing,  and 
direct  General  Wallace  to  march  with  his  division  up  the  river  and 
into  the  field  on  the  right  of  our  line  as  rapidly  as  possible. 

This  order  was  given  to  Captain  Baxter  about  the  hour  of  8 
o'clock.  I  think  not  later  than  that.  We  immediately  rode  to  the  front. 
At  about  11  o'clock  General  Grant  expressed  considerable  solicitude  at 
the  non-appearance  of  General  Wallace,  and  sent  an  orderly  to  the  ex 
treme  right  to  see  if  he  could  see  anything  of  him,  remarking  that  it 
could  not  possibly  be  many  minutes  before  he  would  arrive. 

Shortly  after  the  hour  of  12  o'clock  m.,  as  we  were  riding  tow 
ards  the  right  line,  a  cavalry  officer  rode  up  and  reported  to  General 
Grant,  stating  that  General  Wallace  had  positively  refused  to  come  up 
unless  he  should  receive  written  orders.  After  hearing  the  report  Gen 
eral  Grant  turned  to  me,  saying,  "Captain,  you  will  proceed  to  Crump's 
Landing  and  say  to  General  Wallace  that  it  is  my  orders  that  he  bring 
his  division  up  at  once,  coming  up  by  the  River  road,  crossing  Snake 
Creek  on  the  bridge  (which  General  Sherman  would  protect),  and  from 
his  division  on  the  extreme  right,  when  he  would  receive  further  or 
ders;  and  say  to  him  that  it  is  important  that  he  should  maks  haste." 
Adding,  "It  has  just  been  reported  to  me  that  he  has  refused  to  come 
up  unless  he  receives  a  written  order.  If  he  should  require  a  written 
order  of  you  you  will  give  him  one,"  at  the  same  time  asking  me  if  I 
had  writing  materials  in  my  haversack.  I  started  at  once,  when  the 
general  called  to  me  again,  saying,  "You  will  take  with  you  the  cap 
tain  (referring  to  the  cavalry  officer  before  mentioned,  who  was  still 
sitting  there  on  his  horse — his  name  I  do  not  reccollect),  and  two  or 
derlies,  and  see  that  you  do  not  spare  horse  flesh."  This  was  at  the 
hour  of  12:30  o'clock  m.,  as  near  as  I  can  reccollect. 

I  proceeded  at  once  to  General  Wallace's  camp,  back  of  Crump's 
Landing,  and  being  well  mounted,  it  took  me  but  a  short  time  to  reach 
it.  Upon  arriving  there  I  found  no  signs  of  a  camp,  except  a  baggage 
wagon  that  was  just  leaving.  I  enquired  of  the  driver  as  to  where  Gen 
eral  Wallace  and  his  troops  were;  he  replied  that  they  had  gone  up  to 
the  fight.  I  enquired  what  road  they  took;  to  which  he  replied  by  point 
ing  to  a  road,  which  I  understand  to  be  the  Purdy  road. 


60  HISTORY   OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

While  sitting  there  upon  my  horse  I  could  hear  the  firing  upon 
the  battle-field  quite  distinctly.  I  then  took  the  road  pointed  out  by 
the  teamster  and  rode  a  distance  of  between  5  and  6  miles,  as  I  judged, 
when  I  came  up  with  the  rear  of  General  Wallace's  division;  they  were 
at  a  rest,  sitting  on  each  side  of  the  road,  some  with  their  arms  stacked 
in  the  middle  of  the  road.  I  passed  the  entire  division  (except  the 
cavalry),  all  being  at  a  halt.  When  L  reached  the  head  of  the  column 
I  found  General  Wallace  sitting  upon  his  horse,  surrounded  by  his 
staff,  some  of  whom  were  dismounted  and  holding  their  horses  by  the 
bridles. 

I  rode  up  to  General  Wallace  and  communicated  to  him  Geoeral 
Grant's  orders  as  I  had  received  them,  and  then  told  him  that  it  had 
been  reported  to  him  (i.  e.,  General  Grant)  that  he  had  refused  to 
march  without  writen  orders;  at  which  he  seemed  quite  indignant, 
saying  that  it  was  a  "damned  lie!"  that  he  had  never  refused  to  go 
without  a  written  order,  in  proof  of  which  he  said,  "Here  you  find  me 
on  the  road."  To  which  1  replied  that  I  had  certainly  found  him  on  a 
road,  but  I  hardly  thought  it  the  road  to  Pittsburg  Landing.  It  cer 
tainly  was  not  the  road  that  I  had  come  down  from  there  on,  and  that 
I  had  traveled  farther  since  I  had  left  his  camp  than  I  had  in  coming 
from  the  battle-field  to  the  camp,  and,  judging  from  the  sound  of  the 
firing,  we  were  still  a  long  distance  from  the  battle-field.  To  which 
the  general  replied  that  this  was  the  road  his  cavalry  had  brought  him, 
and  the  only  road  he  knew  anything  about.  He  then  ordered  one  of 
his  aides  to  ride  ahead  and  bring  the  cavalry  back.  I  then  asked  him 
where  his  road  came  into  Pitsburg  Landing;  to  which  he  replied  that 
it  crossed  the  creek  at  a  mill  (I  think  he  called  it  Veal's  Mill)  and  in 
tersected  the  Corinth  and  Pittsburg  Landing  road  in  front  of  where 
General  McClernand's  camp  was.  I  then  told  him  that  I  thought  it 
would  be  impossible  for  him  to  get  in  upon  that  road,  as  the  enemy 
now  had  possession  of  these  camps,  and  that  our  line  of  battle  was  to 
the  rear  of  them.  At  this  moment  his  cavalry  came  back  and  General 
Wallace  rode  forward  to  communicate  with  them.  When  he  came  back 
he  remarked  that  it  was  true  that  the  enemy  was  between  us  and  our 
army;  that  the  cavalry  had  been  close  enough  to  hear  the  musketry. 
The  order  was  then  given  to  counter-march; upon  which  I  remarked  to 
General  Wallace  that  I  would  ride  on  and  inform  General  Grant  that 
he  was  coming;  to  which  he  replied.  "No,  Captain;  I  shall  be  obliged 
to  keep  you  with  me  to  act  as  guide,  as  none  of  us  know  the  River  road 
you  speak  of."  I  accordingly  remained. 

The  march  toward  the  old  camp  was  continued  to  a  point  about 
one-half  mile  north  of  it,  where  the  troops  filed  to  the  right  and  came 
into  the  River  road.  At  the  point  of  filing  off  we  were  met  by  Lieuten 
ant  Colonel  (now  Major-General)  McPherson  and  Major  Rawlins,  mem- 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  61 

bers  of  General  Grant's  staff,  who  had  also  come  to  look  after  General 
Wallace.  The  march  was  continued  up  the  River  road  until  the  battle 
field  was  reached,  which  was  just  as  it  was  getting  dark  and  after  the 
fighting  for  the  day  was  over. 

Of  the  character  of  the  march  after  I  overtook  General  Wallace 
I  can  only  say  that  to  me  it  appeared  intolerably  slow,  resembling  more 
a  reconnaisance  in  the  face  of  the  enemy  than  a  forced  march  to  relieve 
a  hard-pressd  army.  So  strongly  did  this  impression  take  hold  of  my 
mind,  that  I  took  the  liberty  of  repeating  to  General  Wallace  that  part 
of  General  Grant's  order  enjoining  haste.  The  same  idea  seemed  to 
have  taken  possession  of  the  minds  of  Colonel  McPherson  and  Major 
Rawlins,  as  on  the  march  from  the  camp  to  the  battle-field  Major  Raw- 
lins  on  several  occasions  rode  back  for  the  purpose  of  trying  to  hurry 
up  the  troops  and  to  ascertain  what  was  the  cause  of  the  delay.  I 
have  no  means  of  judging  as  to  what  distance  General  Wallace  was 
from  the  battle-field  when  I  found  him,  except  that  I  could  hear  the 
firing  much  more  distinctly  at  the  camp  he  had  left  than  I  could  at  the 
point  where  I  found  him. 

I  -remain,  colonel,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  R.  ROWLEY, 
Major  and  Aide-de-camp. 


Headquarters  Seventeenth  Army  Corps, 
Departmen  of  the  Tennessee, 
Lake  Providence,  La.,  March  2G,  1863. 
Lieut.  Col.  JOHN  A.  RAWLINS, 

Assistant  Adjutant-General: 

Colonel:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  in  relation  to 
the  position  of  the  troops  and  the  battle  of  Shiloh: 

When  the  troops  first  disembarked  at  Pittsburg  Lnnding  the  Ten 
nessee  River  was  very  high,  the  water  backing  up  in  all  the  streams, 
covering  the  bottoms  in  the  vicinity  of  the  river  from  2  to  6  feet,  ren 
dering  Lick  and  Snake  Creeks  impassible. 

Four  divisions  of  the  army  were  enecamped  on  the  field  of  Shiloh 
in  the  relative  positions  indicated  in  the  sketch,  and  one  division  (Maj. 
Gen.  Lewis  Wallace's)  at  Crump's  Landing,  about  6  miles  below. 

My  attention'  was  frequently  called  to  the  crossing  at  Snake 
Creek,  on  the  direct  road  from  Pittsburg  Landing  to  Crump's,  as  it  was 
considered  very  important  that  a  line  of  land  communication  between 
the  two  portions  of  the  army  should  be  kept  open. 

As  soon  as  the  water  subsided  sufficiently  the  bridge  across  the 
creek  was  reconstructed,  and  a  company  of  cavalry  sent  through  to 


62  HISTORY   OP   THE  SEVENTH   IOWA 

communicate  to  General  Wallace's  command.  This  was  on  Thurs 
day,  previous  to  the  battle. 

Sunday  morning,  the  first  day  of  the  battle,  I  was  with  Brig.  Gen. 
W.  H.  L.  Wallace,  who,  in  consequence  of  the  severe  illness  of  General 
C.  F.  Smith,  commanded  the  division.  It  was  well  known  the  enemy 
was  approaching  our  lines,  and  there  had  been  more  or  less  skirmish- 
Ing  for  three  days  preceding  the  battle. 

The  consequence  was  our  breakfasts  were  ordered  at  an  early 
hour  and  our  horses  saddled,  to  be  ready  in  case  of  attack.  Sunday 
morning,  shortly  before  7  o'clock,  word  came  to  the  Landing  that  the 
battle  had  commenced.  I  immediately  started,  in  company  with  Gen 
eral  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  and  staff;  found  his  division  in  line  ready  to 
move  out.  At  this  time,  not  later  than  7:30  a.  m.,  General  McClernand 
had  moved  a  portion  of  his  division  up  to  support  General  Sherman's 
left.  General  Hurlbut  had  moved  to  the  support  of  General  Prentiss, 
and  General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  division  was  moved  up  to  support  the 
center  and  right.  I  was  actively  engaged  on  the  field,  and  did  not  see 
General  Grant  until  some  time  after  his  arrival,  when  I  met  him  on  the 
field,  with  Brig.  Gen.  W.  H.  L.  Wallace.  He  informed  me  that  when 
he  came  up  from  Savannah,  at  7:30,  he  had  notified  Maj.  Gen.  Lewis 
Wallace,  at  Crump's  Landing,  to  hold  his  command  in  readiness  to 
march  at  a  moment's  notice,  and  that  immediately  on  his  arrival  at 
Pittsburg  Landing,  finding  that  the  attack  was  in  earnest  and  not  a 
feint,  he  had  sent  Captain  Baxter,  assistant  quartermaster,  with  orders 
to  him  to  move  up  immediately  by  the  River  road  and  take  a  position 
on  our  right.  Shortly  after  this  Captain  Baxter  returned,  certainly 
not  later  than  10:30,  and  said  that  he  had  delivered  the  order. 

At  about  12  m.,  General  Wallace  not  having  arrived,  General 
Grant  became  very  anxious,  as  the  tide  of  the  battle  was  setting  against 
us,  and  shortly  after  dispatched  Captain  Rowley,  one  of  his  aides,  to 
hasten  up  General  Wallace.  The  battle  still  continued  without  cessa 
tion,  our  troops  being  forced  back  gradually  at  all  points,  though  fight 
ing  most  heroically.  Two  hours  rolled  around  and  no  news  from  Gen 
eral  Wallace,  when  at  2:30  p.  m.  General  Grant  directed  me  to  go  in 
search  of  him,  report  to  him  how  matters  stood,  and  hasten  him  for 
ward,  if  possible.  I  asked  Captain  (now  Lieutenant-Colonel)  Rawlins 
to  accompany  me,  and  taking  two  orderlies,  we  started  at  a  rapid  pace 
on  the  River  road,  expecting  to  meet  the  command  at  every  step;  push 
ed  on  to  the  junction  of  the  Purdy  and  Crump's  Landing  road;  saw 
some  soldiers,  who  could  give  us  no  information  where  General  Wal 
lace  was;  galloped  down  toward  the  Landing  a  short  distance  and  met 
a  surgeon,  who  said  he  had  started  some  time  before'  with  his  command 
for  Pittsburg  Landing  on  a  road  branching  off  between  Adamsville 
and  the  River  road;  pushed  on  in  this  direction,  and  at  the  point  D 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  63 

met  his  Second  Brigade  returning,  the  rear  of  the  First  Brigade  having 
just  filed  off  on  the  road  DA.  We  pushed  on  to  the  head  of  the  column 
and  found  General  Wallace,  when  I  delivered  my  instructions,  and 
told  him  for  "God's  sake  to  move  forward  rapidly." 

I  understood  him  to  say  that  his  guide  had  led  him  wrong,  and  I 
was  most  decidedly  Of  the  impression  that  he  had  mistaken  the  road, 
for  his  command  had  already  marched  a  great  deal  farther  than  was 
necessary  to  reach  the  battle-field. 

I  told  him,  however,  to  hurry  on  and  we  might  yet  be  there  in 
time.  I  thought  we  could  get  there;  sun  three-quarters  of  an  hour  high. 
We  did  not,  however,  reach  the  ground  until  after  dark. 

After  I  reached  the  head  of  the  column  I  must  say  it  seemed  to 
me  that  the  march  was  not  as  rapid  as  the  urgency  of  the  case  required. 
Perhaps  this  arose  in  a  great  measure  from  my  impatience  and  anxiety 
to  get  this  force  to  the  field  before  dark  as  I  knew  very  well  unless 
we  arrived  before  sunset  we  could  be  of  no  use  in  that  day's  battle  and 
would  not  be  able  to  retrieve  the  fortunes  of  the  day. 
Very  respectfully, 

JAS.  B.  McPHERSON, 

Major-General. 


64  HISTORY   OF   THE  SEVENTH   IOWA 


CHAPTER    VI. 

ADVANCE,  SIEGE  AND  CAPTURE  OF  CORINTH. 

April  29th  the  army  broke  camp  and  commenced  the  forward 
movement  on  Corinth,  20  miles  distant.  The  roads  were  bad  and  pro 
gress  was  slow;  we  did  not  go  far  before  encountering  the  outposts  of 
the  enemy  who  gave  ground  at  the  advance  of  our  skirmishers  and 
sharpshooters,  but  at  some  expense  of  loss  of  killed  and  wounded  each 
day,  which  in  the  aggregate  was  quite  considerable.  On  the  first  of  May 
our  Brigade  was  reinforced  by  the  52nd  Illinois  and  Colonel  Sweeney  of 
that  regiment  was  placed  in  command  of  our  Brigade.  He  had  been 
a  Captain  in  the  regular  army,  had  seen  service  and  lost  an  arm  in 
the  Mexican  war.  He  was  a  brave,  gallant  Irishman,  but  austere,  ar 
rogant,  abusive,  officer;  he  enforced  strict  regular  discipline  on  the 
command,  which  did  not  set  well  upon  the  intelligent  volunteers,  caus 
ing  much  complaint  and  friction;  but  as  General  Da  vies,  our  Division 
commander,  was  also  a  regular  army  officer,  we  had  to  stand  it.  With 
the  exception  of  an  occasional  false  alarm,  some  cannonading  and  skir 
mishing,  which  kept  us  in  line  most  of  the  time  we  had  no  serious  op 
position. 

On  the  8th  our  Division  had  grand  review;  it  was  a  swell  affair. 
General  Davies  wore  a  chapeau,  epaulets  and  gorgeous  uniform  in  full 
regulation  style,  making  the  volunteer  officers  in  their  fatigue,  service 
suits  look  cheap;  but  that  was  the  first  and  last  time  we  saw  such 
finery  during  the  rest  of  the  service  until  we  struck  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  at  the  Grand  Review,  at  Washington,  after  peace  was  de 
clared. 

After  getting  within  ten  miles  of  Corinth,  we  began  to  meet  with 
more  determined  opposition  from  the  enemy;  lines  of  battle  were  form 
ed,  the  batteries  were  brought  to  the  front  and  the  woods  in  front  were 
thoroughly  shelled  and  the  lines  advanced,  breastworks  were  thrown  up, 
only  to  be  abandoned  without  use  the  next  day,  when  we  proceeded 
in  a  similar  manner,  building  about  four  lines  of  temporary  works  dur 
ing  our  advance  and  seige  of  Corinth,  before  it  was  evacuated.  Pope  on 
the  left  and  Sherman  on  the  right  encountered  quite  serious  opposition, 
but  not  enough  to  stop  the  onward  movement  of  the  army.  On  the  ad 
vance  we  were  annoyed  by  the  sharpshooters  in  trees,  and  lookouts  to 


CAPT.  R.  G.  REINIGER,  CO.  "G.' 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  65 

find  from  whence  shots  came  from,  that  killed  and  wounded  some  of 
our  men  each  day.  Our  sharpshooters,  the  66th  Ills.,  crawled  up  and 
discovered  their  sharpshooters  with  long  range  target  rifles  in  ambush 
among  the  foliage  of  the  tree  tops,  who  had  been  doing  the  mischief. 
A  puff  of  smoke  from  the  dense  fo.iage  of  a  leafy  tree  top,  brought  a 
response  from  our  riflemen  causing  havoc  and  consternation  among 
that  kind  of  Indian  warfare  that  soon  broke  up  their  game,  so  that 
we  were  not  annoyed  that  way  any  more  during  the  campaign;  it  was 
claimed  that  it  was  the  Creek  Indians  in  the  service  of  the  enemy  that 
adopted  that  style  of  warfare,  but  as  soon  as  our  buck  tailed  regiment 
got  after  them  they  quickly  abandoned  it. 

In  order  to  bring  out  a  phase  of  army  life  not  .generally  touched 
upon,  I  herewith  re-produce  an  article  I  wrote  about  fifteen  years  ago, 
and  which  was  published  in  the  quarterly  "Annals  of  Iowa."  This  oc 
curred  at  this  time  on  the  advance  and  seige  of  Corinth. 

THE  SAD  WAR  EXPERIENCES  OF  TWO  IOWA  BROTHERS. 

Thre  were  only  two  of  us,  Peter  and  I.  Notwithstanding  that 
we  were  the  only  sons  of  a  widowed  mother,  with  two  younger  sisters, 
living  on  a  farm  in  Cerro  Gordo,  then  a  frontier  county  in  the  state, 
we  had  both  enlisted  early  in  the  war,  and  were  among  the  first  who 
started  for  the  front.  I  had  gone  first,  early  in  1861,  with  mother's  con 
sent  and  blessing,  with  the  understanding  that  my  brother  should  re 
main  at  home  and  work  the  farm.  He  staid,  apparently  contented, 
until  the  following  winter,  when  I  returned  on  a  furlough  from  Mound 
City  hospital,  where  I  had  'been  for  treatment  for  a  gun-shot  wound 
in  the  right  shoulder,  received  at  the  battle  of  Belmont,  Mo.,  Novem 
ber  7,  1861. 

They  laid  me  on  mother's  bed  when  I  was  brought  home.  My 
brother  was  away  at  the  time  and  did  not  return  until  evening.  When 
he  came  home,  mother  told  him  to  go  into  her  bedroom  and  see  who 
was  there.  The  first  intimation  he  had  that  I  had  returned  was  when 
he  saw  me  there.  I  never  shall  forget  his  looks  at  that  time.  I  was 
very  much  emaciated  from'  the  effects  of  my  wound  and  the  exposure 
and  neglect  following,  having  been  lett  on  the  battle-field  in  the  hands 
of  the  Rebels  and  receiving  no  medical  attendance  until  over  twenty- 
four  hours  after  the  battle.  He  was  very  much  affected  at  seeing  me 
in  that  condition.  He  was  then  about  nineteen  years  of  age,  with  a  form 
and  physique  the  perfection  of  manhood  and  health;  well  rounded  out 
by  a  life  of  toil  and  privation  on  the  frontier  of  Iowa.  His  face  at  first 
flushed;  then  every  drop  of  blood  seemed  to  leave  it  and  it  was  blanched 
and  grew  hard,  and  the  bloodless  lips  set  in  straight,  cruel  lines.  It 
was  some  time  before  he  could  control  his  feelings  so  he  dared  attempt 
to  speak.  He  finally  calmed  down  and  talked  to  me  about  the  war, 


66  HISTORY   OP  THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

asked  where  my  regiment  was,  and  a  few  particulars  about  my  route 
home,  when  he  said:  "I  shall  have  revenge  for  this.  I  have  been 
chafeing  to  get  away  to  the  front  ever  since  you  went  to  the  war,  and  I 
can  stand  it  no  longer."  He  said:  "Say  nothing  to  mother  and  sis 
ters  about  it  at  present,"  and  he  was  gone. 

He  went  straight  to  the  front,  joined  my  regiment,  the  7th  Iowa 
Infantry,  in  time  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  dangerous  and  arduous 
campaign  with  General  Grant,  in  the  siege  and  capture  of  Forts  Henry 
and  Donelson  being  assigned  to  Lauman's  Brigade  which  led  the  charge 
in  the  capture  of  Fort  Donelson.  He  endured  all  the  privations  of  the 
rain,  mud  and  snow,  away  from  tents  and  supplies,  in  the  most  in 
clement  season  of  the  year,  incident  to  that  campaign;  from  there  he 
went  to  Shiloh,  where  he  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder  by  a  fragment 
of  a  shell,  the  first  day  of  the  battle,  being  in  that  portion  of  the  field 
dsignated  by  the  rebels  as  the  "Hornet's  Nest,"  on  account  of  the  stub 
born  resistance  encountered  at  that  part  of  our  line — they  having  been 
unable  to  break  through  at  that  point.  Notwithstanding  he  Was 
wounded  and  nearly  disabled,  he  refused  to  go  to  the  rear,  but  staid 
with  his  company  and  fought  all  through  both  days  of  the  battle. 

By  this  time  I  had  sufficiently  recovered  from  my  wound  so  as  to 
be  able  for  light  duty,  and  had  returned  to  my  regiment.  During  the 
night,  between  two  days'  fight,  our  regiment  was  ordered  not  to  move 
from  their  tracks  and  not  a  man  left  the  ranks.  At  dark  the  battle  grad 
ually  subsided  from  a  continuous  roar  of  artillery  and  musketry  to  de 
sultory  firing  here  and  there  along  the  line,  and  the  men  were  allowed 
to  lie  down  on  their  arms  and  take  a  much-needed  rest.  My  brother's 
place  in  the  ranks  came  in  the  road,  which  had  been  used  through  the 
day  by  the  troops,  artillery,  ammunition  wagons  and  ambulances, 
passing  back  and  forth,  and,  being  wet,  had  been  churned  into  a  per 
fect  pudding  of  mud,  on  which  he  spread  his  blanket  and  laid  down. 
The  night  set  in  dark  and  rainy,  and  no  fires  were  allowed  in  the 
front.  Its  stillness  was  broken  by  occasional  musket  shots  and  the 
regular  firing  of  nine-inch  shells  every  fifteen  minutes  from  the  gun 
boats,  Lexington  and  Tyler,  in  the  river,  which  went  screeching  over 
head  and  bursting  among  the  enemy  in  the  woods  beyond,  and  the 
moaning  of  the  wounded  as  they  were  carried  through  the  lines  to  the 
hospital  tents  in  the  rear.  All  night  long  the  tramp  of  the  ambulance 
corps  with  the  stretchers  and  suffering  loads  of  humanity  could  be 
heard,  and  the  pitiless  rain  poured  down  incessantly,  making  both 
wounded  and  well  uncomfortable.  In  the  morning  my  brother  got  up 
out  of  his  mud  wallow,  soaking  wet,  and  so  stiff  and  sore  he  could 
scarcely  move,  leaving  his  blanket  where  it  laid,  but  could  not  be  in 
duced  to  go  to  the  hospital  or  to  the  rear.  He  staid  with  the  company 
and  participated  in  the  battle  until  the  Rebels  were  routed  and  driven 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  67 

from  the  field.  Sunday  morning  when  the  battle  began  our  regiment 
was  away  from  our  camp  on  inspection,  and  was  ordered  from  there 
to  the  left  of  the  army  without  going  back  to  quarters.  On  our  return 
to  our  tents  after  the  battle,  we  found  they  had  been  occupied  by  the 
enemy.  They  had  gone  so  suddenly  that  they  left  many  of  their  wound 
ed  in  our  camp.  Prom  my  tent  they  had  taken  everything  they  could 
carry,  including  my  violin,  and  left  one  of  their  wounded,  a  mere 
youth,  whom  we  tenderly  nursed  and  cared  for  several  days,  until  he 
was  taken  to  the  field  hospital. 

My  brother  had  a  perfect  horror  of  going  to  the  hospital,  and 
insisted  in  staying  in  camp  when  it  was  apparent  that  he  was  failing 
every  day.  He  staid  with  the  company  until  the  army  was  ready  to 
move  on  the  campaign  to  Corinth,  and  insisted  that  he  was  able  to 
march  with  the  regiment.  He  fell  in  with  the  company  with  his  knap 
sack,  gun  and  accoutrements,  and  started  on  the  march,  only  to  fall 
behind  the  first  mile.  I  dropped  back  with  him  and  encouraged  him 
by  first  carrying  his  gun;  he  went  on  a  little  farther  and  gave  out 
again.  After  resting  awile  I  took  his  haversack  and  accroutrement 
and  he  went  a  little  farther  and  gave  out  again.  We  sat  down  beside 
the  road  until  darkness  began  to  overtake  us,  when  an  orderly  came  a- 
long,  piloting  our  regimental  teams,  and  told  us  that  the  regiment  had 
gone  into  camp  about  two  miles  beyond,  pointing  the  direction  they 
were.  The  teamster  took  my  brother's  gun  and  knapsack,  but  refused 
to  let  him  ride,  as  he  had  such  a  load,  and  had  strict  orders  not  to  let 
any  one  ride.  We  started  through  the  woods  to  camp  in  the  direction 
indicated  by  the  orderly,  leaving  the  traveled  road.  We  were  not  yet 
off  the  battlefield,  when  darkness  overtook  us;  it  began  to  rain  and  we 
got  lost,  stumbled  and  wandered  around  until  finally  we  could  see  the 
camp  fires,  toward  which  we  started.  My  brother  fell  into  a  shallow 
trench  or  grave  where  some  of  those  killed  in  battle  had  been  buried. 
The  bodies  had  been  entombed  just  long  enough  to  become  decomposed 
and  there  being  scarcely  any  earth  over  them,  he  got  nearly  up  to  his 
knees  in  putrified  humanity.  I  pulled  him  out  amid  such  a  horrible 
stench  that  I  could  scarcely  stand  it,  and  we  made  our  way  to  camp 
where  we  arrived  about  twelve  o'clock  at  night.'  He  smelled  so  badly 
that  the  boys  could  not  stay  in  the  tent  with  him  in  that  condition,  so 
we  stripped  him  of  all  his  clothing,  rolled  him  up  in  a  blanket  and  laid 
him  in  the  tent,  as  he  did  not  have  a  change  of  clothing,  and  I  took  his 
clothes  to  a  creek  and  washed  them  out  and  hung  them  by  the  camp  fire 
to  dry.  He  had  a  burning  fever  all  through  the  night  and  was  not  able 
to  sit  up  the  next  morning,  so  the  regimental  surgeon  sent  him  back 
to  the  hospital  in  an  ambulance. 

Until  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  the  discipline  in  camp  and  field 
nad  been  somewhat  lax,  and  the  experience  of  carelessness  and  sur- 


I 

68  HISTORY   OP   THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

prise  at  that  time  had  led  the  officers  to  see  the  necessity  of  being  more 
strict  and  watchful  for  a  wary  foe,  until  they  had  gone  almost  to  the 
other  extreme  of  strictness  and  dicipline,  as  they  saw  the  stern  fact 
of  a  long  and  pitiless  war  upon  us. 

We  continued  our  march  and  approach  to  Corinth,  skirmishing, 
fighting,  entrenching  and  advancing  every  day,  and  I  heard  nothing 
from  my  brother  until  about  the  10th  of  May,  when  word  came  to  me 
from  the  rear  that  he  was  on  the  hospital  steamer  City  of  Memphis  at 
Pittsburg  Landing,  dying,  and  wanted  to  see  me.  I  went  to  my  Colonel 
E.  W.  Rice,  and  asked  him  for  a  two  days'  leave  of  absence  to  go  to  him 
He  said  he  would  be  willing  to  grant  my  request,  only  that  he  was  a- 
fraid  I  might  get  captured  by  the  Rebel  Cavalry,  or  guerrillas  if  I  went 
alone,  and  suggested  that  I  might  get  detailed  as  one  of  the  guards  to 
the  wagon  trains  that  were  hauling  supplies  from  our  base  on  the  Ten 
nessee  River.  I  told  him  I  would  undertake  to  do  so  if  he  would  give 
me  permission  and  a  pass;  he  did  so,  and  had  it  approved  by  General 
Davies,  our  division  commander.  I  looked  around,  among  the  wagon- 
masters  of  the  different  divisions  to  find  one  going  to  the  landing, 
but  could  not  find  any  going  that  day,  so  I  made  up  my  mind  to  go  a- 
lone  and  take  the  night  for  it.  I  made  my  way  to  the  rear  of  the  army 
and  waited  for  darkness.  As  soon  as  it  became  dusk  I  started, 
skirting  the  roads  so  as  to  avoid  meeting  or  being  overtaken  by  guer 
rillas  or  bushwhackers.  I  heard  squads  of  horsemen  several  times 
during  the  night,  when  I  would  skulk  in  the  brush  or  slide  behind  trees 
and  wait  until  they  passed.  It  was  too  dark  for  me  to  discern  whether 
they  were  friends  or  foes. 

I  arrived  at  the  outposts  at  the  landing  at  daylight  having  march 
ed  over  twenty  miles  by  the  road,  the  latter  part  of  the  journey  being 
over  the  battle  ground  of  Shiloh,  where  I  had  to  pick  my  way  through 
fallen  trees,  skeletons  of  horses,  unknown  graves  and  the  general  de 
bris  of  the  late  strife.  I  encountered  a  few  pickets  near  the  landing, 
who  allowed  me  to  pass. 

The  gunboats  Lexington  and  Tyler  I  could  dimly  see  in  the 
dusky  fog  anchored  in  mid-stream,  with  their  black  hulls  and  big  guns 
looking  angrily  out  of  the  port  holes,  guarding  the  supplies  on  the 
bluffs,  and  the  hospital  steamer  whose  bow  was  stuck  in  the  mud  of 
the  bank,  with  her  stern  swung  out  in  the  stream.  It  was  just  getting 
daylight  and  there  was  no  stir  on  board  as  yet.  I  stepped  upon  the 
gang-plank  to  go  on  board,  when  I  was  confronted  by  two  guards  with 
fixed  bayonets,  and  cold  unfeeling  looks,  who  refused  to  let  me  pass. 
I  explained  my  mission  and  begged  them  to  allow  me  to  go  on  board, 
which  they  refused  to  do,  saying  they  had  positive  orders  not  to  pass 
any  one.  I  asked  to  see  the  surgeon  or  officer  in  charge,  but  they  said 
he  had  not  yet  got  up,  so  I  sat  down  on  the  bank  and  waited.  The  first 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  69 

officer  I  saw  was  a  young  doctor  who  came  out  of  the  cabin,  and  Began 
fishing  over  the  stern  of  the  steamer.  I  hailed  him  and  explained  to 
him  my  errand  and  asked  him  to  be  allowed  to  go  aboard  and  see  my 
brother.  He  said  he  could  not  allow  me  to  do  so,  giving  as  a  reason 
that  men  had  got  on  the  boats  upon  one  pretext  or  another,  and  had 
gone  north  on  French  furlough  or  deserted — that  the  orders  were  not 
to  allow  any  soldiers  on  board  but  the  guards,  nurses  and  wounded. 
I  told  him  I  would  pledge  my  word  as  a  soldier  and  gentleman  that  if 
he  would  grant  me  an  interview  with  my  brother,  I  would  go  ashore 
and  return  to  my  regiment  at  the  front  at  once.  I  held  my  pass  in  my 
hand  and  asked  him  to  come  and  read  it  for  himself,  stating  that  it  was 
given  by  Colonel  Rice  and  approved  by  General  Davies,  but  he  was 
inexorable  and  relentless,  and  no  amount  of  persuasion  would  induce 
him  to  change  or  modify  his  decision;  so  I  sat  down  sorrowfully  on 
the  bank  to  devise  some  way  to  circumvent  the  orders,  or,  Micawber- 
like,  "wait  for  something  to  turn  up." 

I  realized  that  whatever  was  done  must  be  done  soon,  as  my 
leave  of  absence  would  expire  on  the  morrow,  and  my  regiment  was 
over  twenty  miles  away,  and  advancing.  I  was  tired,  hungry  and 
foot-sore  from  my  all  night's  march.  As  I  sat  there  eating  hard-tack 
and  raw  bacon,  and  watching  the  doctor  fishing,  he  would  occasionally' 
look  at  me,  and  I  fancied  he  was  uneasy  and  that  his  heart  was  soften 
ing.  He  finally  hailed  me  and  asked  me  if  I  could  find  him  some 
angle-worms  for  bait.  I  told  him  pleasantly  I  would  do  my  best  to  do 
so.  I  thought  if  I  could  find  them  he  would  allow  me  to  go  on  board 
and  see  my  brother.  I  dug  around  the  bank  with  my  bayonet,  but  was 
unsuccessful,  so  I  went  back  about  half  a  mile  to  a  field  and  was  for 
tunate  in  finding  some,  and  returned  and  called  to  him  that  I  had  them. 
He  told  me  to  come  on  board  and  bring  them  to  him,  which  I  very 
gladly  hastened  to  do.  I  went  again  to  the  gang-plank,  and  was  again 
stopped  by  the  same  guards.  I  again  went  and  called  the  doctor,  and 
he  ordered  them  to  let  me  pass.  I  passed  to  the  stern,  handed  the 
bait  to  the  doctor  and  hurried  up  the  after  gang-way  to  the  cabin.  It 
was  a  very  large  steamer,  the  state-rooms  were  full  of  sick  and  wound 
ed,  and  there  was  a  long  row  of  cots  full,  on  each  side  of  the  cabin. 
I  searched  for  some  time  among  the  mass  of  suffering  humanity  before 
I  found  my  brother,  and  when  I  did  I  scarcely  knew  him,  he  was  so 
emaciated,  weak  and  low,  as  to  be  hardly  able  to  speak.  He  was  en 
tirely  overcome  when  he  saw  me;  we  clasped  hands,  and  I  waited  for 
him  to  grow  calm  and  get  strength  enough  to  talk,  which  seemed  a 
long  time.  I  was  so  overcome  with  grief  that  I  dared  not  trust  myself 
to  speak,  and  we  did  nothing  for  some  time  but  look  tearfully  into 
each  other's  eyes.  I  could  see  plainly  that  I  should  see  him  no  more 
after  this  interview,  for  the  mark  of  death  was  plainly  upon  his  brow. 


70  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

We  finally  got  calm  and  talked  a  little;  wifh  tearful  eyes,  and  a 
weak  and  nervous  convulsive  motion  of  his  lips,  he  told  me  he  was 
aware  he  had  not  long  to  live  and  was  so  glad  I  Had  come  to  see  him. 
He  was  about  delivering  a  message  for  me  to  send  fo  mother  and  the 
folks  at  home,  when  an  officer  and  a  detail  of  soldiers  came  down  the 
aisle  and  with  a  braggart's  important  air,  which  broke  so  harshly  on 
our  feelings  of  grief  and  affection,  absolutely  drove  me  from  the  boat 
at  the  point  of  their  bayonets,  in  the  face  of  my  dying  brother's  plead 
ing  and  imploring  helplessness  and  my  begging  to  allow  him  to  finish 
his  last  message  and  to  bid  me  good-bye;  but  it  was  of  no  avail;  I 
was  mercilessly  thrust  ashore  and  I  never  saw  him  again. 

I  saw  over  four  years  of  service  in  the  war,  two  and  a  half  in  the 
ranks  and  the  remainder  of  the  time  as  a  commissioned  officer,  always 
in  the  very  front,  but  this  was  the  hardest  thing  I  ever  have  had  to 
bear,  either  in  war  or  peace. 

I  realize  that  after  the  surprise,  the  confusion  and  demoraliza 
tion  during  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  it  was  necessary  to  have  strict  orders 
and  thorough  discipline,  but  in  the  face  of  all  this,  conceding  every 
thing,  as  time  has  softened  many  things  and  explained  others,  I  still 
think,  and  always  expect  to,  that  for  a  cowardly,  cold-hearted  piece 
of  meanness,  that  capped  the  climax;  and  I  shall  always  think  that 
nobody  but  cowardly  officers  and  soldiers  who  skulked  and  sought  duty 
in  the  rear,  would  ever  be  guilty  of  such  acts.  They  certainly  might 
have  discriminated  in  their  orders  enough  to  allow  my  dying  brother 
to  finish  his  message  to  our  widowed  mother. 

He  died  on  the  12th  of  May,  1862,  among  strangers,  without  a 
friend  to  comfort  him,  on  the  hospital  steamer  City  of  Memphis,  on 
his  way  to  Keokuk  hospital,  and  was  buried  on  the  banks  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  River,  below  Quincy. 

Could  he  have  only  survived  to  reach  home,  and  laid  his  suffer 
ing  and  weary  head .  on  the  mother's  bosom  that  had  nourished  him 
to  strength  and  manhood,  to  go  forth  to  do  battle  for  his  country,  he 
would  have  died  satisfied;  and  what  a  comfort  it  would  have  been  to 
her  -through  all  these  long  years,  to  have  had  the  privilege  of  minister 
ing  unto  him  in  his  last  moments! 

To  this  day  I  have  never  had  the  courage  to  tell  our  mother  the 
circumstances  of  his  death,  and  I  hope  she  may  never  know  them. 

The  recollections  of  that  time,  and  the  circumstances,  come 
back  fresh  to  me  over  the  lapse  of  a  third  of  a  century,  with  a  vivid 
ness  as  though  it  were  but  yesterday — and  they  were  my  saddest  ex 
periences  of  the  war. 

H.  I.  SMITH. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  71 

General  Hallock  advanced  very  cautiously,  by  slow  marches,  in 
trenching  every  day.  Step  by  step,  tree  by  tree,  position  to  position; 
clinging  to  stumps  and  hillocks,  closely  followed  by  the  pioneer  corps 
and  details  of  men  with  entrenching  tools;  contest  was  raging  along 
the  lines  each  day.  Beauregard  concentrated  his  army  at  Corinth  and 
strongly  fortified  his  position;  he  summoned  to  his  aid,  all  the  avail 
able  troops  of  the  southwest,  including  the  armies  of  Price  and  Van- 
Dorn,  from  Missouri  and  Arkansas,  as  well  as  the  militia  of  the  states 
of  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and  Louisiana,  and  prepared  for  a  determined 
defense.  Beauregard  was  inciting  his  troops  and  fighting  for  his  fading 
prestige  of  invincibility  with  obstinacy  and  desperation.  r'Soldiers  of 
Shiloh  and  Elkhorn,"  he  said  to  his  troops,  "we  are  about  to  meet  once 
more  in  the  shock  of  battle  the  invaders  of  our  soil,  the  despoilers  of 
our  homes,  the  disturbers  of  our  family  ties,  face  to  face,  hand  to  hand. 
*  *  *  With  your  mingled  banners,  for  the  first  time  during  this  war, 
we  meet  the  foe  in  strength  that  should  give  us  victory.  Soldiers  can 
the  result  be  doubtful?  Shall  we  not  drive  back  into  Tennessee  the 
presumptous  merceanaries  collected  for  our  subjugation?  One  more 
manly  effort,  and,  trusting  to  God  and  the  justice  of  our  cause,  we 
shall  recover  more  than  we  have  lately  lost." 

Bragg,  too,  addressed  his  men  in  the  same  strain,  telling  them: 
"You  will  encounter  him  in  your  chosen  position,  strong  by  nature  and 
improved  by  art,  away  from  his  main  support  and  reliance — gunboats 
and  heavy  batteries — and  for  the  first  time  in  this  war,  with  nearly 
equal  numbers." 

We  continued  advancing  and  fighting,  canonading  and  entrench 
ing,  until  the  30th,  when  we  heard  heavy  explosions,  rumbling  of  rail 
road  trains  and  terrific  rumbling  sounds,  which  we  afterwards  learned 
was  caused  by  the  destruction  of  amunition  and  stores  before  the 
evacuation  of  Corinth  by  the  enemy.  Soon  curriers  returned  stating 
that  our  skirmishers  were  in  the  city  which  had  been  evacuated  dur 
ing  the  night,  when  the  most  of  the  army  were  put  in  hasty  pursuit. 
On  the  ridges  around  Corinth  could  be  seen  the  remains  of  the  aban 
doned  camps  of  the  enemy,  everything  indicating  a  speedy  and  hasty 
retreat.  In  the  town  itself  many  houses  were  still  burning  and  the 
ruins  of  warehouses  and  buildings  containing  commissary  stores  were 
still  smouldering;  but  there  still  remained  piles  of  cannon  balls,  shells 
and  shot, sugar, molases,beans,rice  and  other  property,  which  the  enemy 
had  failed  to  carry  off  or  destroy.  We  captured  many  of  the  enemy's 
pickets  who  were  sacrificed  to  make  a  show  of  resistance,  until  the  last 
of  the  army  could  get  away. 

The  pursuit  was  pushed  as  far  south  as  Boonville,  but  bridges 
were  destroyed  and  roads  obstructed  as  they  retreated,  making  it 
necessary  for  us  to  clear  them  to  allow  our  artillery  and  ammunition 


72  HISTORY    OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

trains  to  follow,  so  that  they  succeeded  in  getting  most  of  their  army 
away,  by  abandoning  and  destroying  most  of  their  stores  an'd  supplies 
and  leaving  their  heavy  artillery.  Thus  ended  the  seige  and  capture 
oi  Corinth. 

According  to  General  Beauregard's  official  report  made  on  the 
22nd  of  April,  1862,  he  had  four  corps  for  the  defence  of  Corinth,  Polk's 
Bragg's,  Hardee's1  and  Breckenridge's,  besides  cavalry,  &c. 
Total  of  80.804  men  of  all  arms.  In  his  official  report  made  May  26th, 
just  before  the  evacuation,  he  had  112,017.  Our  force  aggregated  about 
150,000  of  all  arms.  It  must  be  remembered,  however,  that  they  were 
strongly  fortified,  on  ground  of  their  own  choosing,  they  were  in  their 
own  country,  among  friends  holding  the  inside  of  the  circle  which  took 
much  less  force  to  show  the  same  frontage  strength  than  we,  who  were 
encircling  them  in  the  open.  They  boldly  challenged  us  to  meet  them  at 
Corinth.  We  accepted,  came  slowly,  without  concealment  to  the  ground 
of  their  own  choosing  and  they  fled,  after  making  all  preparations  and 
strong  fortifications. 

General  Grant  says  in  his  own  memoirs  that,"The  most  anxious  per 
iod  of  the  war,  to  me,  was  during  the  time  the  army  of  the  Tennessee 
was  guarding  the  territory  acquired  by  the  fall  of  Corinth  and  Mem 
phis  and  before  I  was  sufficiently  reinforced  to  take  the  offensive." 
The  enemy  also  had  cavalry  operating  in  our  rear,  making  it  necessary 
to  guard  every  point  of  the  railway  back  to  Columbus  on  the  security 
of  which  we  were  dependent  for  all  our  supplies." 

We  returned  after  the  pursuit  to  Corinth  on  the  13th  of  June  es 
tablished  permanent  camp  about  two  miles  south  of  the  city,  designat 
ing  it  Camp  Montgomery,  why  the  name?  I  never  knew.  It  was  a 
nice,  shady  place,  which  we  proceeded  to  brush,  trim  up  and  police;  our 
tents,  camp  and  garrison  equipage  were  brought  up  and  we  laid  out 
camp  in  regular  camp  order  and  proceeded  to  drill  and  perfect  our 
selves  in  warfare  and  take  a  much  needed  rest.  We  established  post  hos 
pitals  in  the  buildings  where  we  could  give  our  sick  and  wounded  proper 
care.  Rations  of  flour  were  issued  to  us  for  the  first  time  since  we  left 
Pittsburg;  we  made  dutch  bake  ovens  out  of  clay  and  our  cooks  pre 
pared  us  soft  bread;  we  were  also  provided  with  fresh  meat  all  of  which 
was  relished  after  long  use  of  hardtack  and  salt  meat.  We  also  dug 
wells  and  secured  wholesome  and  palatable  water,  which  had  the  effect 
of  improving  the  health  of  the  troops.  Many  of  our  officers  resigned 
here,  which  made  quite  a  change  in  the  line -officers  of  the  regiment. 
The  war  department  issued  orders  about  this  time  that  regiments  and 
companies"  not  having  a  minimum  number  of  men  would  not  be  allowed 
a  full  complement  of  commissioned  officers  and  as  our  regiment  had 
been  so  depleted  from  the  casualities  of  war,  few  of  the  companies  had 
enough  for  a  full  quota,  so  we  were  not  allowed  but  two  commissioned 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  73 

officers  to  a  company.  But  we  got  rid  of  a  lot  of  useless  officers  by  their 
resignations,  that  were  subject  to  cold  feet. 

Some  of  the  regiments  and  companies  were  sent  to  surrounding 
towns  on  outpost  duty  and  guarding  the  railroad  to  Memphis;  while 
others  made  short  expeditions  in  the  surrounding  country  trying  to 
head  off  or  capture  Forrest's  or  Roddy's  cavalry  that  were  harassing 
our  outposts  or  destroying  our  communications.  A  daily  train  went 
to  Memphis  to  bring  forward  army  supplies  to  be  accumulated  for  fu 
ture  campaigns  and  furnish  the  army.  A  company  of  infantry  were 
detailed  each  day  to  guard  the  train  from  attack  by  guerrillas,  a  block 
house  was  built  on  a  flat  car,  on  which  was  placed  a  piece  of  artillery 
to  be  fired  through  port  holes  which  was  pushed  ahead  of  the  locomo 
tive  to  protect  the  engineer  and  trainmen;  the  scheme  had  the  effect 
of  keeping  raiding  parties  of  rebels  from  tearing  up  the  road,  burning 
bridges,  &c.  The  trains  and  railroads  were  mostly  operated  by  details 
from  men,  who  had  been  in  the  business  before  they  enlisted  in  the 
army.  The  cabs  of  the  engines  were  armored  to  keep  guerrillas  from 
picking  off  the  engineer,  fireman  and  armed  guards  riding  with  them. 

Soon  after  the  capture  of  Corinth  General  Grant  was  restored  to 
the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  General  Buell  was  sent 
with  his  army  to  Huntsville,  Stevenson  and  Chattanooga,  and  General 
Sherman's  Division  was  distributed  along  the  line  of  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  Railroad,  between  Memphis  and  Grand  Junction.  He  re 
built  the  bridges,  put  the  road  and  equipments  in  running  order,  which 
furnished  transportation  facilities  to  carry  forward  supplies  to  the 
front  at  Corinth.  General  Sherman  in  the  meantime  was  promoted  to 
a  full  Major  General,  and  things  generally  evened  up. 

We  remained  quietly  in  quarters  in  Camp  Montgomery  until  the 
15th  of  September,  when  we  accompanied  the  expedition  under  Rose- 
crans  in  the  march  which  resulted  in  the  recapture  of  luka,  and  while 
we  did  not  directly  participate  in  the  battle,  we  were  in  position  as  or 
dered.  Gen.  Hamilton  with  a  portion  of  the  command  who  were  in  the 
advance,  met  a  force  of  the  enemy  and  was  beaten  back  before  we 
could  get  to  him  to  assist,  losing  a  battery  and  a  large  number  killed 
and  wounded,  the  5th  Iowa  being  nearly  annihilatel.  During  the  night 
Price  evacuated  and  retreated,  when  we  marched  into  town  the  next 
morning  without  opposition  and  participated  in  the  pursuit,  in  which 
they  escaped. 

We  returned  to  camp  Montgomery,  where  we  laid  and  rested  un 
til  the  memorable  two  days  battle  of  Corinth,  which  occurred  on  the 
3rd  and  4th  of  October,  1862. 


74  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

BATTLE  OF  CORINTH. 

We  left  Camp  Montgomery  on  the  morning  of  the  3rd  with  two 
days  rations  and  100  rounds  of  cartridges  each  in  light  marching  order, 
leaving  those  unfit  for  duty  in  camp,  with  teamsters  and  convalescents 
to  guard  the  camp  and  trains;  marching  through  and  two  and  one-half 
miles  northwest  of  the  town  of  Corinth,  taking  position  in  the  old 
rebel  rifle  pits  in  support  of  a  section  of  Company  I  battery  of  the  First 
Missouri  Light  Artillery.  The  defensive  works  had  been  built  while 
the  enemy  occupied  the  city; they  had  cleared  the  timber  and  brush  sev 
eral  hundred  yards  in  front,  so  that  we  had  good  view  and  range.  We 
had  no  sooner  got  in  position  than  we  saw  them  forming  in  the  woods 
in  our  front,  from  which  they  soon  emerged  in  three  columns,  close  col 
umn  by  division.  We  were  ordered  to  hold  our  fire  for  close  work,  ex 
cept  the  battery,  so  it  gave  us  a  good  opportunity  to  see  the  charge. 
They  charged  the  brigade,  General  Ogelsby's,  immediately  to  our  left. 
It  was  the  grandest  sight  I  think  I  ever  witnessed.  Their  columns 
were  simply  invincible;  they  came  on  without  hesitating  or  wavering 
in  the  least,  breaking  our  line  with  the  very  force  and  impact  of  their 
solid  massed  divisions  with  a  valor  and  determination  worthy  of  a 
better  cause.  The  brigade  to  our  left  gave  way  which  obliged  us  to  fall 
back,  not  until  we  had  given  them  an  enfilading  fire  from  our  battery, 
which,  while  it  did  i'earful havoc,  it  never  stopped  them  for  a  moment. 
The  line  and  circle  we  occupied  was  built  for  an  army  of  100,000  men 
which  they  had  before  the  evacuation,  hence  with  our  small  numbers 
we  could  not  expect  to  maintain,  as  they  had  force  enough  to  overlap 
us  on  both  flanks.  We  fell  back  to  a  ridge  near  the  White  house,  filed 
to  the  left,  taking  position  perpendicular  to  the  road  and  waited  for 
them  again.  The  timber  and  brush  here  was  so  thick  we  could  not  see 
far  in  advance,  as  soon  as  their  skirmish  line  discovered  our  new  po 
sition,  they  cautiously  withdrew  and  proceeded  to  ^give  us  a  vigorous 
shelling  with  their  batteries  for  half  an  hour  or  so  which  was  responded 
to  by  Lieut.  Bruner  with  a  section  of  Battery  "H"  First  Missouri 
Light  Artillery;  and  failing  to  dislodge  us  in  this  way,  they 
again  came  on  with  their  solid  masses  of  infantry,  with 
such  force  and  determination  that  we  were  again  obliged  to  yield 
to  their  superior  strength,  aiter  a  severe  loss  of  men  and  nearly  all  our 
battery  horses.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  we  got  our  guns  off  the  field; 
in  fact  we  lost  two  cassions  and  some  guns  of  a  30  pound  Parrott  bat 
tery  in  the  brigade  to  the  right;  these  guns  are  too  large  and  un- 
wieldly  to  handle  at  close  range,  especially  in  the  timber  without  roads, 
so  we  lost  two;  but  they  were  recaptured  in  t'heir  defeat  the  next  day, 
together  with  a  portion  of  the  Dubuque  battery  which  had  been  pre 
viously  lost  by  our  troops  in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  Ark.  Our  brigade 


_  td 

o  >. 

O  .{j 

1 1 

tr  '» 


o    d 

""  w 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  75 

commander,  General  Hackelman,  was  mortally  wounded  while  gallant 
ly  leading  us,  and  sad  havoc  was  made  in  tfie  field  officers  and  men  of 
the  brigade.  Col.  Parrott,  Major  McMullen  and  Sergt.  Major  Cameron 
were  wounded.  Capt.  B.  K.  Smith  was  killed,  Capt.  Conn  wounded,  and 
Lieuts.  Irvin,  Bennett,  Gale,  Hope,  Morrison  and  Smith;  with  a  total 
casuality  in  the  two  days  batle  of  127.  The  Second  Iowa  which  fought 
by  our  side  had  a  loss  more  severe,  losing  their  Colonel,  James  Baker, 
and  Lieut.  Colonel  Mills  mortally  wounded,  together  with  a  large  list 
of  officers,  rank  and  file. 

After  they  had  driven  us  into  the  town,  which  was  after  nightfall, 
General  Vandorn  sent  an  officer  under  a  flag  of  truce,  with  a  demand 
for  surrender,  stating  that  they  had  us  completly  surrounded,  the  de 
mand  was  accompanied  by  a  threat  to  shell  us  out  with  their  artillery 
if  it  v/asn't  complied  with.  Rosecrans,  our  commander,  refused  to  sur 
render.  At  3:30  o'clock  in  the  morning  they  opened  up  on  us  with  all 
their  artillery,  about  fifty  pieces.  It  was  yet  dark.  As  a  noisy  pyro- 
technical  display  it  was  magnificent  and  terrible;  the  heavens  were 
lit  up  with  flying  missies,  with  burning  fuses,  with  long  lines  of  sheet 
flame  and  screeching  shells,  presenting  a  scene  grand  and  sublime; 
but  they  shot  too  high  and  did  little  damage,  only  to  the  skulkers  in 
the  rear  and  field  hospitals. 

I  was  orderly  sergeant  of  Co.  "B"  and  present  with  the  company; 
in  the  battle  on  the  first  day  the  color  guards  were  all  killed  or  wound 
ed,  making  it  necessary  to  make  new  details  for  the  next  day;  the 
Adjutant  called  for  a  sergeant  from  company  "B."  It  was  my  duty  as 
the  orderly  sergeant  to  make  the  selection;  I  had  no  sergeant  for  duty 
and  as  it  was  corporal  Channers  next  turn  for  duty,  I  detailed  him. 
He  seemed  to  have  a  premonition  that  if  he  went  he  would  be  Killed 
and  so  stated,  saying  if  it  was  his  turn  for  detail  he  would  go  if  I  said 
so.  I  convinced  him  it  was  his  turn  and  he  reluctantly  went,  saying  he 
knew  he  would  be  killed.  He  was  killed  before  noon  bravely  defending 
the  flag.  He  was  a  noble  specimen  of  a  robust,  intelligent,  volunteer  sol 
dier  and  I  have  always  felt  condemned  for  doing  my  duty  in  sending 
him  in  the  face  of  his  conviction. 

After  Channer  fell  and  Alex.  Fields  the  color  bearer  was  wound 
ed,  George  Craig,  a  drummer  of  company  "B,"  sprang  for  the  colors  and 
held  them  up.  He  was  a  little  wiry,  nervy  fellow,  not  overly  strong; 
the  exertion  and  excitement  of  the  battle  completely  unnerved  him; 
he  kept  up  bravely  until  after  the  fight,  then  taking  the  colors  to  Col 
onel  Rice  he  handed  them  to  him  saying,  "Colonel,  I've  got  the  sand, 
but  not  the  bottom,"  fainted  and  sank  to  the  ground.  The  boys  gather 
ed  around  him,  fanned  him  with  their  hats,  gave  him  water  and  he  re 
vived,  but  he  was  completely  exhausted. 


76  HISTORY    OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

Company  "K"  being  on  outpost  duty  escaped  the  trying  ordeal 
of  the  battle. 

THE  GUN  "LADY  RICHARDSON." 

A  rebel  account  of  the  capture  of  the  30  pound  Parrott  gun  Lady 
Richardson  at  the  battle  of  Corinth.  Only  the  heavy  guns  had  individ 
ual  names. 

(The  News  is  requested  to  reprint  this  piece  of  war  reminiscence. 
It  is  from  the  Confederate  Veteran  and  explains  itself.) 
Rev.  A.  T.  Goodloe,  Station  Camp,  Tenn.: 

"This  magnificent  and  somewhat  celebrated  cannon  belonged  to  a 
Yankee  battery  at  Corinth,  which  was  stormed  and  captured  by  the 
Thirty-fifth  Alabama  and  Ninth  Arkansas  regiments,  October  3,  1862. 
General  Rust,  then  commanding  our  brigade,  was  in  the  immediate  rear 
of  the  Thirty-fifth  Alabama,  to  which  I  belonged  when  he  ordered  the 
charge,  and  he  thought  this  regiment  alone  did  the  work,  as  the  regi 
ment  between  us  and  the  Ninth  Arkansas  did  not  advance.  After  the 
fight  he  brought  Gen.  Lovell,  then  commanding  that  army,  around  to 
our  regiment  and  presented  us  to  him  as  the  troops  that  drove  the 
massed  forces  of  Yankee  infantry  from  their  entrenchments  and  cap 
tured  their  battery.  General  Lovell  remarked:  "Well,  boys,  you  did 
that  handsomely."  I  have  thought  that  Gen.  Rust  did  not  observe,  in 
the  rush  of  the  battle,  tliat  the  Ninth  Arkansas  and  Thirty-fifth  Alabama 
touched  each  other  before  we  reached  the  battery.  The  Yankees  gave  up 
the  "Lady  Richardson"  very  reluctantly,  and  W.  G.  Whitfield,  a  private 
in  Company  D,  Thirty-fifth  Alabama,  gave  chase  to  the  last  one  that 
left  it,  nearly  catching  him  at  the  start,  but  the  Yankee  was  too  fleet 
for  him.  This  incident  was  the  occasion  of  Whitfield  being  made  the 
first  sergeant  of  the  company  at  my  suggestion.  He  is  now  a  prosper 
ous  tobacco  leaf  merchant  at  Paducah,  Ky. 

I  have  written  this  mainly  to  correct  a  mistake  of  an  honored 
comrade  in  the  June  Confederate  Veteran  in  regard  to  the  capture  of 
the  "Lady  Richardson"  at  the  Corinth  fight.  I  was  acting  as  lieutenr 
ant  of  Company  D  of  my  regiment  at  the  time,  but  it  was  before  my 
commission  had  reached  me. 

"W.  G.  Whitefield,  First  Sergeant,  Company  D,  Thirty-fifth  Alabama 
Regiment,  Paducah,  Ky.: 

"I  have  seen  several  articles  about  the  thirty-pound  Parrott  gun, 
"Lady  Richardson,"  but  have  never  seen  any  account  of  who  captured 
it.  The  Thirty-fifth  Alabama  and  Ninth  Arkansas  captured  it  Octo 
ber  3,  1862,  at  Corinth,  Miss.  One  of  her  shots  struck  a  large  tree,  just 
a  few  feet  from  my  head  and  tore  it  to  pieces.  One  of  my  company, 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  77 

who  was  deaf,  W.  C.  Collins,  turned  his  head  to  one  side  and  looked 
up  as  though  he  had  heard  it.  ''Lady  Richardson"  was  named  for  the 
wife  of  Senator  Richardson,  of  Illinois,  and  I  understood  that  it  was 
manned  by  a  Chicago  company.  I  can  testify  that  they  stood  to  their 
work  bravely,  for  many  of  them  never  left  their  posts.  I  was  the  first 
man,  or  with  the  first,  to  pass  by  within  a  few  feet  of  this  gun.  The 
Ninth  Arkansas  and  Thirty-fifth  Alabama  were  the  two  regiments  who 
charged  her  from  the  west,  passing  on  and  reforming  some  two  hun 
dred  yards  beyond,  when  some  other  troops  came,  apparently  from  the 
north  side,  wounded  one  of  my  regiment  and  placed  their  flag  on  the 
guns.  Our  first  impression  was  that  the  Yanks  were  flanking  us.  I 
suppose  we  opened  fire  on  the  "lady"  at  about  two  hundred  yards  range 
and  never  ceased  until  we  halted  some  two  or  three  hundred  yards  be 
yond.  Mr.  Henry  Hand,  Gen.  Rust's  adjutant,  is  living  here,  and  says 
my  statement  is  correct.  Rev.  A.  T.  Goodloe,  of  Station  Camp,  Tenn., 
will,  I  expect,  be  heard  from,  as  he  had  me  promoted  for  trying  to 
catch  the  last  Yank  who  left  the  "Lady." 

I  am  of  the  opinion  that  the  Twenty-second  Mississippi  really 
believed  she  captured  the  "Lady."  I  did  not  do  a  great  deal  in  the 
four  years  in  infantry  but  I  do  want  my  own  and  no  more. 

THE   REBEL   FLAG   CAPTURE. 

Account  of  capture  of  rebel  colors  by  George  Rollet  of  com 
pany  "H."  7th  Iowa. 

Chicago,  111.,  July  28th,  1894. 
Mr.   George  Rollett,  Fort  Madison,  Iowa. 

Friend  and  Comrade:  Your's  of  recent  date  asking  for  my 
recollections  of  the  capture  of  the  rebel  flag  at  Corinth,  Miss1**  Oct.  4th, 
1862,  is  at  hand.  I  remember  the  circumstances  well.  The  rebels  had 
charged  close  up  to  our  lines  when  the  reception  we  gave  them  was  so 
warm  they  were  forced  to  seek  shelter  behind  the  many  stumps  and 
logs  near  them.  Immediately  in  front  of  our  company,  from  behind  a 
stump,  a  rebel  color-bearer  was  waving  his  flag.  I  tried  my  marks 
manship  on  the  confederate  gentleman,  but  the  flag  still  waved.  When 
our  line  was  forced  to  give  way.  five  or  six  of  Company  D  remained 
long  enough  to  take  one  more  shots  at  our  southern  cousins.  I  finished 
loading  first  and  was  priming  when  I  saw  the  bearer  raise  and  ad 
vance  with  the  colors.  I  called  the  attention  of  our  squad  to  him.  We 
all  fired  at  him  about  the  same  time,  except  yourself.  At  the  crack 
of  your  gun  the  bearer  and  flag  went  to  earth.  Later  on  when  the 
field  was  once  more  ours,  you  was  first  to  reach  the  spot  where  lay  the 
dead  cojor-bearer,  holding  with  a  death-grip  the  staff  of  the  flag  he 
had  so  bravely  carried.  You  secured  the  flag  and  passed  it  up  to  Col. 


78  HISTORY   OP   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

E.  W.  Rice,  who  carried  it  until  the  close  of  the  battle.  I  have  read 
the  statement  of  W.  E.  Davis  claiming  that  Wm.  Barry,  of  the  Second 
Iowa,  captured  a  flag  at  Corinth.  That  may  be  so,  but  if  he  did  and 
it  was  taken  from  him,  some  one  else  (not  Gen.  Rice)  took  it,  for  those 
who  knew  him  would  never  accuse  Gen.  Rice  of  stooping  so  low  as 
to  take  a  trophy  from  its  captor  and  giving  it  to  another.  He  carried 
but  one  flag  through  that  fight,  and  that  was  the  one  you  captured, 
Comrade  Rollett. 

I  cannot  believe  that  any  member  of  the  brave  old  Second  Iowa 
would  intentionally  deprive  one  of  the  Seventh,  who  to  the  Second 
were  as  brothers  during  the  four  bloody  years  of  the  war,  of  any  honor 
that  was  rightfully  his— simply  a  mistake  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Davis. 

Make  any  use  of  this  statement  you  wish. 

Yours  in  F.  C.  and  L., 

J.  D.  HAMILTON, 
Late  Co.  D,  Seventh  I.  V.  V.  I. 

General  Grant  says  in  his  memoirs  that,  "The  battle  of  Corinth 
was  bloody,  our  loss  being  315  killed,  1,812  wounded,  and  223  missing. 
The  enemy  lost  many  more.  Rosecrans  reported  1,$23  dead,  and  2,225 
prisoners.  Among  the  killed  on  our  side  was  General  Hackleman. 
General  Oglesby  was  badly  wounded,  it  was  for  some  time  supposed 
mortally  wounded.  I  received  a  congratulatory  letter  from  the  Presi- 
d?nt,  which  expressed  also  his  sorrow  for  the  losses."  In  describing 
that  battle  I  can  not  do  better  than  quote  from  Kilmer's  description 
of  that  fight. 

At  Corinth,  Miss.,  Oct.  3  and  4,  1862,  General  Earl  VanDorn  at- 
temped  to  wre-st  the  great  prize  of  the  valley  from  the  grasp  of  Grant. 
The  fall  of  Corinth  into  the  hands  of  the  Confederates  would  mean 
that  Grant's  victories  at  Port  Henry,  Donelson  and  Shiloh  early  in 
the  year  had  been  in  vain.  Corinth  at  the  time  was  the  advance  post 
of  the  Federals  in  the  southwest.  Grant  was  at  Jackson,  Tenn.,  and 
maintained  a  force  of  12,000  at  Bolivar,  with  another  at  Memphis  under 
Sherman  numbering  7,000.  The  garrison  at  Corinth  mustered  23,000 
and  was  commanded  by  Rosecrans.  VanDorn,  having  united  his  own 
army  with  that  of .  Sterling  Price,  Villepigue,  Lovel  and  Rust,  after 
the  repulse  of  Price  at  luka  Sept.  20,  had  over  40,000  troops  in  the 
field,  and  he  boldly  considered  striking  Memphis,  Bolivar  or  Corinth. 

Grant  was  in  doubt  where  VanDorn  would  appear.  A  large  Con 
federate  army  was  across  the  border  in  Kentucky,  and  every  Federal 
soldier  that  could  be  spared  from  the  defense  of  the  Memphis  and 
Corinth  region  was  needed  to  defend  the  line  on  the  Ohio.  Grant  and 
his  generals  must  therefore  fight  it  out  with  VanDorn  alone. 


HENRY  I.  SMITH, 

First  Sergeant  Company  "B,''  i862. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  79 

VanDorn  and  Price  were  vehement,  not  to  say  rash,  leaders 
in  battle.  They  planned  to  surprise  Rosecrans  at  Corinth  with  one 
column  and,  engaging  him  in  his  works,  bring  up  a  fresh  column 
and  clinch  the  victory.  But  Rosecrans  was  bold  as  well.  When  he 
heard  that  the  enemy  was  after  Corinth  he  marched  his  troops  out 
to  give  battle  in  front  of  the  works. 

Rosecrans'  center  division  under  General  Davies  was  first  at 
tacked  by  three  Confederate  divisions.  VanDorn's  line  was  so  long 
that,  it  overlapped  Davies,  and  his  troops  fought  heroically,  but  had 
to  give  ground  step  by  step.  Every  one  of  his  brigade  commanders 
fell  early  in  the  fight.  General  Hackleman  was  mortally  wounded 
while  rallying  the  troops.  General  Oglesby  of  Illinois  was  shot  down 
at  the  same  time.  Some  soldiers  stooped  to  carry  Oglesby  from  the 
field,  but  he  cried  out:  "Never  mind  me!  Look  yonder!"  The  Con 
federates  had  broken  the  line  and  were  rushing  on  to  Corinth.  Col 
onel  Baldwin,  leader  of  the  Third  brigade,  also  fell. 

Countless  deeds  of  heroism  were  enacted  on  Davies'  line,  for  it 
was  in  a  forlorn  hope  to  keep  the  head  of  the  Confederate  column  at 
arm's  length  until  Rosecrans  could  draw  his  line  back  to  the  works. 
Lieut. Maxwell  of  Hackleman's  brigade  rushed  forward  into  the  enemy's 
ranks  and  recaptured  a  regimental  standard  that  had  just  been  lost. 
Tn  falling  back  from  an  old  redan  which  had  been  used  at  the  begin 
ning  of  the  fight  the  Ffty-second  Illinois  left  Private  Murray  alone 
behind  the  rampart.  "It  is  orders  to  hold  the  fort  to  tlie  last,"  he  ex 
claimed.  A  Confederate  captain  demanded  Murray's  surrender  and 
when  it  was  refused  shot  him  with  a  revolver.  Murray  shot  the  cap 
tain  dead  and  also  a  private  who  attacked  him. 

Both  army  leaders  sighed  for'one  hour  more  of  daylight'when  night 
put  an  end  to  the  battle  on  Oct.  3.  In  spite  of  the  heroic  fighting  in  the 
center  of  Rosecrans'  line, VanDorn  had  carried  his  army  to  within  600 
yards  of  Corinth.  But  in  fighting  his  way  up  VanDorn  had  merely 
driven  a  wedge  between  the  Federal  right  and  left,  Rosecrans'  right 
division  under  General  Hamilton  was  ready  when  the  sun  went  down 
.to  fall  upon  the  Confederate  rear.  After  dark  Rosecrans  drew  all  his 
troops  back  inside  the  line  of  fortifications  and  stood  ready  for  the 
battle  which  VanDorn  sprung  at  daylight  Oct.  4.  After  a  short  duel 
of  artillery  the  Confederates  ceased  fighting.  The  division  which  had 
the  most  important  part  in  heading  the  charge  did  not  move,  but  about 
8  o'clock  the  charging  line  marched  out  from  the  cover  of  the  woods 
in  splendid  style.  Rosecrans'  troops,  lying  down  in  front  of  the  bat 
teries,  could  see  the  southern  flags  and  the  glint  of  the  sun  upon  the 
advancing  bayonets.  The  first  Federal  line  attacked  was  unfortunate 
ly  placed,  and  the  troops  gave  way.  Rushing  pellmell,  the  Confeder 
ates  were  caught  by  the  fire  of  Rosecrans'  batteries.  The  force  of  the 


80  HISTORY   OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

charge  was  broken  by  the  shells,  but  some  of  the  boldest  Confederates 
dashed  on  into  the  Federal  reserve  artillery. 

The  bloodiest  fighting  of  the  day  was  at  Battery  Robinett,  a  little 
work  holding  three  guns,  with  a  ditch  in  front  five  feet  deep.  This 
battery  was  assaulted  again  and  again  until  the  dead  Confederates 
lay  piled  in  ranks  before  it.  When  the  head  of  the  column  at  last 
reached  the  ditch,  Colonel  Rogers,  leading  the  Second  Texas,  dismount 
ed  and,  taking  his  flag  from  the  hands  of  a  dead  color-bearer,  the  fifth 
to  fall  in  the  desperate  charge,  planted  it  upon  the  bank  and  stood  by 
rallying  his  men  until  he  was  pierced  by  eleven  bullets. 

Colonel  Rogers  fell  in  front  of  the  Eleventh  Missouri  infantry. 
That  regiment  lay,  or  knelt,  rather,  out  of  sight  of  the  enemy  in  rear 
of  the  battery.  The  moment  the  force  of  the  southern  charge  was 
broken  the  Missourians  arose  with  wild  cheers  and  charged  bayonets. 
But  the  dead  in  front  of  Battery  Robinett  were  not  all  Confederates. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  fight  the  Sixty-third  Ohio  lay  about  forty  rods 
in  advance  of  the  Missouri  regiment.  A  cloud  of  sharpshooters  pre- 
ceeded  the  Confederate  column  and  took  the  Ohioans  for  their  prin 
cipal  target.  So  deadly  was  their  fire  that  when  the  charging  column 
headed  by  Colonel  Rogers  reached  the  little  fort  the  Ohio  regiment 
had  entirely  disappeared.  When  the  Ohioans  arose  to  meet  the  Con 
federate  onslaught,  there  were  13  officers  and  275  men  in  the  line. 
More  than  half  of  the  men  and  nine  officers  were  killed  or  wounded, 
but  the  remnant,  with  the  Eleventh  Missouri,  rushed  after  the  Con 
federates  with  their  bayonets  at  the  end  of  the  last  desperate  charge. 

One  of  the  Ohio  boys  made  the  most  desperate  flag  capture  of  the 
day.  In  the  last  charge  a  gallant  Texan  marched  in  front  of  the  col 
umn  straight  for  the  fort.  He  was  shot,  and  Private  Orin  B.  Gould 
of  Company  G  sprang  forward  to  seize  the  flag.  A  Confederate  cap 
tain  called  out  to  his  followers,  "Save  your  colors."  Gould  was  hit  in 
the  breast  with  a  revolver  shot,  but  brought  off  the  trophy  in  triumph. 

The  fight  at  the  works  of  Corinth  did  not  last  over  an  hour.  The 
Federal  Battery  Powell  was  captured  by  a  brigade  of  Price's  Missou 
rians,  but  before  help  could  come  up  to  hold  it  the  assailants  had  been 
routed.  By  noon  the  Confederates  were  in  full  retreat.  VanDorn  drew 
his  army  south  into  Mississippi,  and  it  took  no  further  part  in  the 
campaign  around  Corinth  or  the  game  General  Bragg  was  playing  in 
the  invasion  of  Kentucky. 

GEORGE  L.  KILMER. 

Gen,  Grant  said:  "The  battle  was  recognized  by  me  as  being  a  decid 
ed  victory."  *  *  * 

Since  the  war  it  is  known  that  the  result,  as  it  was,  was  a  crushing 
blow  to  the  enemy,  and  felt  by  him  much  more  than  it  was  appreciated 


C.    H.    TROTT, 

Regimental  Quartermaster. 

Afterwards  Captain  and  A.  A.  Gen.,  U.  S.  V. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  81 

by  the  north.  The  battle  relieved  me  from  any  further  anxiety  for  the 
safety  of  the  territory  within  my  jurisdiction,  and  soon  after  receiv 
ing  reinforcements  I  suggested  to  the  General-in-chief  a  forward  move 
ment  against  Vicksburg."  . 


The  following  heroic  incident  is  contributed  by  C.  H.  Troot,  at 
that  time  Quartermasters  Sergeant  of  the  7th  Iowa,  who  formerly  be 
longed  to  Co.  "B."  As  a  piece  of  unrecorded  history  it  is  certainly 
worthy  of  record.  These  warehouses  contained  millions  of  rations,  am 
munition  and  army  stores  that  had  been  gathered  and  accumulated 
for  the  army  for  months,  and  now  that  Price  had  destroyed  all  the 
supplies  at  luka,  only  a  short  time  before,  it  will  readily  be  seen  what 
an  immense  damage  to  the  army  it  would  have  been  had  they  been  de 
stroyed.  It  would  have  necessitated  the  withdrawal  of  the  army  to 
its  base  for  food,  if  nothing  more.  So  that  two  enlisted  men  of  the 
7th  Iowa  can  be  truthfully  credited  with  saving  the  retreat  of  the  army 
and  abandonment  of  territory  captured  at  such  an  expense  of  life, 
suffering  and  treasure. 

A  NARROW  ESCAPE. 

The  following  incident  was  known  only  to  two  others  of  our 
regiment  besides  myself,  and  it  has  probably  never  received  any  pub 
licity.  All  who  were  at  Corinth,  Miss.,  during  the  months  proceeding 
the  battle  of  Corinth  on  Oct.  3rd  and  4th,  18G2,  were  aware  of  the  large 
ware  houses*  erected  by  the  government  along  the  line  of  the  Memphis 
railroad.  That  which  contained  the  commissary  stores  was  an  im 
mense  frame  building,  and  at  the  time  of  the  battle  was  filled  to  the 
very  roof  with  millions  of  rations  which  had  been  shipped  in  for  the 
purpose  of  provisioning  the  entire  army.  It  was  reported  at  the  time, 
that  the  Confederates  had  brought  large  wagon  trains  to  take  away 
the  supplies  they  so  sorely  needed  and  expected  to  capture. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  battle  (Oct.  4),  the  regiment  was  lying 
in  line  of  battle  with  Welkor's  battery  "H,"  1st  Missouri  Light  Artil 
lery — on  its  right.  It  was  a  quiet,  but  hot  afternoon,  and  for  awhile 
there  was  nothing  heard  but  the  firing  of  our  skirmishers  and  the 
discharge  at  regular  intervals  of  shells  from  the  battery.  Taking 
advantage  of  the  convenient  opportunity  to  procure  the  rations  which 
would  be  required  to  supply  the  regiment  that  evening,  I  proceeded 
with  one  wagon  to  the  commissary  warehouse.  The  wagon  went  to 
the  open  door  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  building,  where  the  supplies 
were  being  delivered  by  Ben.  Barbour — afterwards  Capt.  of  Co.  I,  7th 
Iowa,  and  who  at  that  time  had  charge.  Probably  more  than  twenty- 
five  wagons  were  congregated  about  this  door ,  from  other  regiments. 
Hitching  my  horse, I  entered  at  the  rear  end  of  the  long  building.  Before 
I  had  reached  less  than  one-third  its  entire  length,  I  heard  a  terrific 


82  HISTORY   OP   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

cannonading,  and  hurrying  back  to  the  entrance  to  ascertain  the  mean 
ing,  I  realized  that  the  fight  was  on.  Shells  struck  the  building  and 
passed  through  it  and  our  boys  were  driven  into  the  very  streets  of 
the  town.  From  the  outside  looking  toward  where  the  wagons  had 
halted,  I  saw  nothing  but  a  cloud  of  dust  in  the  wake  of  the  teams 
that  were  flying  out  of  harms  way.  Every  store  on  the  main  street 
was  hastily  deserted  and  stragglers  and  camp  followers  helped  them 
selves  to  what  they  wanted.  The  mule  and  Eorse  corrals  adjoining 
were  emptied  of  stock,  and  citizen  clerks  were  riding  in  hot  haste  to 
the  rear,  in  the  direction  of  the  Tennessee  river. 

Ben.  Barbour  came  up  the  length  of  the  building  to  where  I  was 
— all  his  assistants,  except  one  roustabout,  having  fled —  and  we  de 
bated  what  was  best  to  be  done.  At  this  point  the  office  clerk  who 
represented  the  Chief  Commissary  in  his  absence  from  town,  came 
riding  to  the  warehouse,  armed  with  sword  and  pistols  and  with  a 
handful  of  matches,  and  orders  that  a  barrel  of  whiskey  be  dumped 
from  the  pile,  broken  open,  and  the  building  fired  immediately,  to  pre 
vent  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  situation  certainly 
looked  critical,  but  neither  Ben.  Barbour  nor  myself  shared  in  the  ex 
citement  of  our  friend,  though  we  thought  the  place  was  doomed. 
However,  through  much  argument,  we  finally  persuaded  him  that  the 
matches  be  left  with  us,  and  at  the  "last  moment"  we  would  fire  the 
building  and  take  our  chance  of  escape  on  foot.  The  firing  along  the 
lines  was  continuous,  and  from  a  rear  door  we  distinctly  saw  the 
charges  on  Fort  Robinett.  After  perhaps  a  half  hour  of  suspense  the 
enemy  was  driven  back  and  from  that  moment  the  Confederates  con 
tinued  their  retreat  and  the  battle  was  won. 

What  the  effect  on  our  boys  and  on  the  enemy  would  have  been, 
had  the  stores  been  destroyed  is  a  matter  for  conjecture,  but  it  was 
a  narrow  escape  for  them. 
Junction  City,  Kansas.  C.  H.  TROTT. 


Captain  Trott  is  too  modest  to  say  that  he  was  soon  afterward 
promoted  to  Quartermaster  of  the  Regiment  with  the  rank  of  First 
Lieutenant,  and  that  probably  his  heroic  conduct  and  judgment  in  the 
foregoing  affair  had  much  to  do  with  his  promotion.  He  was  also  in 
1864,  promoted  to  Captian  and  Asst.  Adjutant  General,  in  which  posi 
tion  he  served  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

Rosecrans  entire  force,  including  reinforcements  received  the 
second  day  of  the  battle,  in  round  numbers  consisted  of  20,000  men  of 
all  arms,  while  the  combined  forces  of  VanDorn  and  Price  consisted 
of  40,000  men. 


S'8' 

2.  t" 


» g 


O 


—   td 
^J   O 

II 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  83 

In  General  Van  Dorn's  address  at  his  court  martial  in  defense  of 
his  misconduct  and  mismanagement  of  his  army  at  tfie  battle  of  Cor 
inth,  he  says."  *  *  *  "From  all  the  sources  accessible  to  a  com 
mander  I  was  satisfied  that  the  Union  force  at  Corinth  and  its  outposts 
did  not  much  exceed  20,000  men.  Some  of  their  outposts  were  at  a 
distance  from  Corinth  of  15  or  20  miles.  By  a  sudden  and  rapid  at 
tack  on  the  place  I  expected  to  throw  upon  it  a  force  superior  to  that 
of  the  enemy,  and  I  hoped  to  carry  the  place  before  the  re-enforcements 
of  the  outposts  could  be  drawn  in.  To  this  end  I  masked  my  attack  on 
Corinth  by  threatening  Bolivar.  My  advance  on  Bolivar  had  drawn  the 
division  off  from  Corinth  to  that  point.  I  marched  suddenly  from 
Ripley  to  Pocahontas,  equidistant  between  Bolivar  and  Corinth.  My 
cavalry  was  thrown  forward  to  both  points.  I  turned  quickly  toward 
Corinth,  masking  my  infantry  with  cavalry  up  to  Indian  creek,  within  a 
short  distance  of  the  exterior  works  of  Corinth,  making  it  uncertain 
which  place  was  the  object  of  my  attack.  I  cut  the  railroad  between 
Bolivar  and  Corinth  and  no  re-enforcements  came  from  Bolivar  to 
Corinth.  Further  to  cover  my  design  I  worked  on  a  bridge  at  Poca 
hontas  and  left  it  unfinished.  By  the  proof  of  the  case  it  is  manifest 
that  I  fell  upon  Corinth  defending  by  less  than  15,000  men." 


A  WIFE  ON  THE  BATTLE-FIELD. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter,  dated  at  Corinth,  on  the 
6th  of  October,  1862,  vividly  portrays  the  fearful  emotions  and  anxious 
thoughts  which  torture  the  mind  of  an  observer  during  the  progress  of 
battle,  and  narrates  but  one  of  the  many  harrowing  scenes  of  war: 

"O,  my  friend!  how  can  I  tell  you  of  the  tortures  that  have  near 
ly  crazed  me,  for  the  last  three  days?  Pen  is  powerless  to  trace,  words 
weak  to  convey  one  tithe  of  the  misery  I  have  endured.  I  thought  my 
self  strong  before.  I  have  seen  so  much  of  suffering  that  I  thought 
my  nerves  had  grown  steady,  and  I  could  bear  anything;  but  today  I 
am  weak  and  trembling,  like  a  frightened  child. 

"But  do  not  wonder  Pvt  it.  My  dear  husband  lies  beside  me,  woun 
ded  unto  death,  perhapu.  I  have  lost  all  hope  of  saving  him,  though  I 
thank  God  for  the  privilege  of  being  this  moment  beside  him.  And, 
besides  this,  all  around  me  the  sufferers  lie  moaning  in  agony.  There 
has  been  little  time  to  tend  them,  poor  fellows.  True,  the  surgeons  are 
busy  all  the  time,  but  all  the  wounded  have  not  yet  been  brought  in, 
and  it  seems  as  if  the  time  will  never  come  when  our  brave  men  shall 
have  been  made  comfortable  as  circumstances  may  permit.  It  is  awful 
to  look  around  me.  I  can  see  every  imaginable  form  of  suffering,  and 
yet  am  helpless  to  aid  them  any  of  consequence. 

"Since  night  before  last  I  have  not  left  my  husband's  side  for  a 


84  HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

moment,  except  to  get  such  things  as  I  required,  or  to  hand  some  poor 
fellow  a  cup  of  water.  Even  as  I  write,  my  heart  throbs  achingly  to 

hear  the  deep  groans  and  sharp  cries  about  me.  F is  sleeping,  but 

I  dare  not  close  my  eyes,  lest  he  should  die  while  I  sleep.  And  it  is  to 
keep  awake,  and  in  a  manner  relieve  my  overburdened  heart,  that  I 
am  now  writing  you  under  such  sad  circumstances. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  third  instant  the  fight  began.  The  at 
tack  was  made  on  Gen.  McArthur's  division,  and  we  could  plainly  hear 
the  roar  of  the  artillery  here,  as  it  is  about  two  miles  and  a  half  dis 
tant  from  this  place.  O,  the  fearful  agony  of  that  awful,  awful  day! 
I  had  only  seen  F —  a  moment  early  in  the  morning,  but  it  was  only  a 
moment,  when  he  bade  me  goodby,saying,  hurriedly,  as  he  tore  himself 
away.:  'Pray  for  me,  my  wife,  and  if  I  fall,  God  protect  you!'  There 
was  something  in  his  look  and  tone  which  struck  a  chill  to  my  heart, 
and  every  moment  after  I  knew  the  fight  had  begun,  I  felt  as  if  he  had 
indeed  fallen.  I  cannot  tell  how  long  it  was  before  I  heard  that  Ogles- 
by's  brigade  was  engaged,  but  it  seemed  an  age  to  me.  After  that  my 
agony  was  nearly  intolerable.  I  never  had  a  thought  of  fear  for  myself; 

I  was  thinking  only  of  F .  Then  I  got  the  word  that  he  had  been 

hotly  pursued  by  the  rebels,  and  had  fallen  back. 

"Late  in  the  afternoon  I  succeded  in  gaining  a  little  intelligible 
information.  Poor  Gen.  Hackleman  was  shot  through  the  neck,  while 
giving  a  command,  and  fell  mortally  wounded.  He  died  between  ten 
and  eleven  o'clock  the  same  night,  I  have  since  learned.  Up  to  the 
time  of  receiving  the  wound  he  had  acted  with  the  greatest  bravery  and 
enthusiasm,  tempered  by  coolness  that  made  every  action  effective. 
When  dusk  at  last  put  an  end  to  the  first  day's  conflict,  I  learned  that 
Gen.  Oglesby  had  been  dangerously  wounded,  but  could  gain  no  in 
telligence  of  my  husband.  I  could  not  bear  the  suspense.  Dark  as  it 
was,  and  hopeless  as  it  seemed  to  search  for  him  then,  I  started  out 
to  the  battle-field. 

"0,  how  shall  I  describe  the  search  of  that  night?  It  looked  like 
madness.  But  all  night  long  I  staggered  amongst  bleeding  corpses,  over 
dead  horses,  trampled  limbs,  shattered  artillery — everything  that  goes 
to  make  up  the  horrors  of  a  battle-field  when  the  conflict  is  over. 
They  were  removing  the  wounded  all  night.  O,  think  how  awful  to 
stumble  over  the  dead,  and  hear  the  cries  of  the  wounded  and  dying, 
alone,  and  in  the  night-time.  I  had  to  start  off  alone,  else  they  would 
not  have  let  me  go. 

"A.s  you  may  suppose,  I  could  not  find  him,  either  among  the 
living  or  the  dead.  But  the  next  morning,  just  after  sunrise,  I  came 
to  a  little  clump  of  timbers,  where  a  horse  had  fallen — his  head  shot  off, 
and  his  body  half  covering  a  man  whom  I  supposed  dead.  His  face  was 
to  the  ground;  but,  as  I  stooped  to  look  closer,  I  perceived  a  slight 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  85 

movement  of  the  body,  tben  heard  a  faint  moan.  I  stooped  and  turned 
the  face  upward.  The  head  and  face  were  covered  with  blood,  but  when 
I  turned  it  to  the  light,  I  knew  it  in  spite  of  its  disfiguration.  O  God! 
the  agony  of  that  moment  sickened  me  almost  to  suffocation.  With  a 
strength  I  thought  impossible  in  me,  I  drew  him,  crushed  and  bleeding, 
from  beneath  the  carcass  of  our  poor  old  horse,  whom  we  had  both  so 
loved  and  petted,  and  dipping  my  handkerchief  in  a  little  pool  of  wa 
ter  among  the  bushes,  bathed  his  face,  and  pressed  some  moisture  be 
tween  his  parched,  swollen  lips.  He  was  utterly  senseless,  and  there 
was  a  dreadful  wound  in  his  head.  Both  limbs  were  crushed  hopelessly 
beneath  his  horse.  He  was  utterly  beyond  the  reach  of  human  skill 
to  save,  but  as  soon  as  possible  I  had  him  conveyed  to  the  hospital. 
I  have  nursed  him  ever  since — hopelessly,  and  with  a  heart  breaking 
with  grief.  O,  how  many  wives,  how  many  mothers,  are  to-day  mourn 
ing  the  dead  and  dying  as  I  mourn  my  dying!  He  has  not  opened 'his 
eyes  to  look  at  me,  or  spoken  to  me,  since  he  fell.  O,  could  he  but 
speak  to  me  once  before  he  dies,  I  should  give  him  up  with  more  resig 
nation.  But  to  die  thus — without  a  look  or  word!  O,  my  heart  is 
breaking!" 


We  bivouaced  on  the  battle-field  on  the  night  of  Saturday  the 
fifth,  and  on  Sunday  morning  joined  in  the  pursuit;  the  position,  of 
our  division  being  in  the  rear  and  being  ordered  to  gather  the  prop 
erty  abandoned  in  their  retreat,  we  only  advanced  a  few  miles.  The 
next  morning  we  returned  to  Corinth  and  buried  our  dead  who  had  be 
come  bloated  and  decomposed.  The  enemy's  cavalry  had  attacked  our 
camp  during  our  absence,  but  the  teamsters  and  convalescents  left  there 
on  guard  had  made  such  a  vigorous  defense  that  they  did  not  succeed 
in  doing  much  damage.  The  report  of  the  wagonmaster  of  the  Union 
Brigade  in  charge  was  that  with  a  force  of  18  men  he  repulsed  a  hun 
dred  of  the  enemy,  killing  four  and  wounding  three,  with  a  loss  of  only 
one  man  wounded.  General  Davies,  who  commanded  the  division  re 
ported  the  Seventh  Iowa  captured  six  prisoners  and  one  stand  of 
colors.  The  Second,  31  prisoners  and  a  stand  of  colors.  Lieut.  David 
son,  of  the  52nd  Ills.,  on  General  Sweeny's  staff,  also  captured  a 
stand  of  rebel  colors.  He  also  says,  "I  also  wish  to  particularly  mention 
Colonel  E.  W.  Rice  of  the  7lh  Iowa,  for  gallantry  and  meritorious 
conduct  on  the  field." 


86  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

REPORT  OP  COL.  ELLIOTT  W.  RICE,  SEVENTH  IOWA  INFANTRY. 

Hdqrs.  Seventh  Regt.  Iowa  Infantry  Vols. 

Rienzi,  Miss.,  October  10,  1862. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  part 
taken  by  the  Seventh  Regiment  Iowa  Infantry  in  the  battle  of  Corinth 
on  October  3  and  4: 

On  the  morning  of  the  3rd  I  received  the  order  of  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  Hackleman,  commanding  the  First  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Army 
of  the  Tennessee,  to  march  my  command  from  Camp  Montgomery  via 
Corinth  in  the  direction  of  Chewalla.  I  left  camp  with  327  men  and 
26  officers,  my  largest  company  (K)  being  on  detached  service,  guard 
ing  the  railroad,  5  miles  east  of  Corinth.  Line  of  battle  was  formed 
1  mile  west  of  Corinth,  with  my  regiment  on  the  left  of  the  brigade. 
This  line  was  changed  to  one  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  front  (west). 
After  this  line  was  formed  I  was  ordered  to  proceed  with  my  regiment 
and  one  section  of  the  First  Missouri  Light  Artillery  and  reconnoiter 
the  front  as  far  as  the  old  line  of  breastworks.  I  moved  my  command 
cautiously  and  gained  the  position  designated  without  discovering  the 
enemy,  placed  the  battery  in  favorable  position,  with  my  regiment  to 
support  it,  and  dispatched  my  adjutant  to  report  the  result  of  the  recon 
naissance.  The  whole  division  then  advanced,  and  my  command  was 
again  on  the  left  of  the  brigade. 

About  1  p.  m.  a  successful  charge  was  made  by  the  enemy  on  the 
fortifications  defended  by  the  brigade  on  my  left.  Our  position  was 
flanked,  and  I  was  ordered  to  move  my  command  about  one-half  mile 
to  the  rear,  where  line  of  battle  was  again  formed.  This  line  was  soon 
changed  to  one  still  farther  to  the  rear,  and  I  was  ordered  to  support 
the  battery.  I  placed  my  command  in  favorable  position  immediately 
on  the  right  of  the  battery  and  ordered  my  men  to  lie  down.  The 
enemy's  battery  was  placed  directly  in  front  of  my  command,  and  a 
most  terrific  cannonading  ensued.  My  men  held  this  position  firmly  and 
unflinchingly  for  an  hour  and  a  quarter  exposed  to  a  murderous  fire 
of  shell  and  canister.  Our  battery,  having  exhausted  its  ammunition, 
retired,  and  the  rebel  infantry  advanced  in  strong  force.  My  men  were 
kept  concealed  until  the  enemy  advanced  to  within  short  range,  when 
I  opened  fire  upon  them  from  my  whole  line  and  for  a  time  held  them 
in  check.  They  soon  rallied,  and  I  was  ordered  to  take  position  farther 
to  the  rear.  The  enemy  moved  on,  our  whole  brigade  made  a  sudden 
charge,  and  the  enemy  were  again  checked,  thrown  into  some  confusion, 
and  repulsed.  This  gave  an  opportunity  to  take  a  more  favorable  po 
sition,  and  another  line  was  formed  between  the  white  house  and  Bat 
tery  Robinett  at  a  point  where  the  two  howitzers  were  posted.  This 
position  was  held  until  most  of  the  wounded  had  passed  to  the  rear 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  87 

and  my  ammunition  was  entirely  exhausted,  when,  by  order  of  General 
Davis,  my  command  was  placed  to  support  a  battery  on  the  left  of 
Battery  Robinett.  Gaining  this  position,  I  immediately  supplied  my 
men  with  40  rounds  of  ammunition.  Night  coming  on,  the  battle  of  the 
3rd  was  ended  and  I  had  lost  many  noble  men. 

At  10  p.m.  I  received  Colonel  Sweeny's  order  to  proceed  with  my 
command  to  a  position  east  of  Corinth,  and  at  1  o'clock  the  following 
morning  my  regiment  was  moved  to  a  line  north  of  Corinth,  when  a 
line  of  battle  was  formed  fronting  west,  my  position  in  the  brigade  being 
still  on  the  left.  At  3:30  o'clock  the  enemy's  artillery  commenced 
shelling  the  town,  and  at  about  10  o'clock  I  was  ordered  to  proceed 
with  my  command  to  the  front  and  deploy  it  as  skirmishers.  This 
deployment  was  made  and  the  two  center  companies  held  as  a  reserve. 
After  advancing  a  short  distance  I  ascertained  that  the  enemy  were 
crossing  the  railroad  in  force  to  a  position  on  the  right.  I  immediately 
dispatched  Lieutenant-Colonel  Parrott  to  General  Davies  with  this  in 
formation,  who  at  once  ordered  me  to  return  to  my  former  position.  I 
had  but  gained  it  for  a  short  time  when  the  enemy  appeared  and  charged 
on  the  battery  defended  by  the  brigade  on  the  right  of  the  first.  The 
brigade  on  my  left  was  attacked  at  the  same  time.  I  opened  a  vigorous 
oblique  fire  on  the  enemy  charging  the  battery  and  continued  ft  until 
General  Rosecrans  ordered  me  to  cease  firing.  Soon  the  brigade  on  my 
left  fell  back.  The  enemy  gaining  position  on  my  left  flank,  I  was 
ordered  to  retire  a  short  distance.  I  halted  my  command  about  50 
yards  in  the  rear.  An  advance  was  soon  ordered,  and  I  immediately 
gained  the  position  just  abandoned  and  the  enemy  was  driven  into 
tne  woods.  They  made  another  attempt,  directly  in  front  of  my  regi 
ment,  to  charge  the  battery.  My  men  held  their  position  firmly,  check 
ing  the  enemy,  who  took  refuge  from  the  storm  of  bullets  which  was 
rained  upon  them  in  the  abatis.  The  Seventeenth  Iowa  coming  up  on 
my  left  flank,  I  advanced  rapidly  upon  the  rebel  position,  when  they 
broke  and  ran  in  great  confusion.  My  command  had  fired  the  whole  of 
the  40  rounds  of  cartridges  with  which  it  had  been  supplied  in  the 
morning,  but  was  immediately  supplied,  without  leaving  the  field,  by 
my  excellent  quartermaster,  Lieutenant  Forsha,  who,  regardless  of  per 
sonal  safety,  was  ever  ready  to  supply  my  command  with  ammunition 
even  in  the  heat  of  battle.  I  remained  in  position  during  the  balance 
of  the  day  and  at  night  bivouaced  on  the  battle-field. 

The  following  morning  I  received  orders  to  move  on  the  road  tow 
ard  Chewalla  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  When  about  3Mj  miles  from  Cor 
inth  I  was  ordered  to  report  with  my  command  to  General  Rosecrans. 
By  his  order  I  bivouaced  for  the  night  at  the  college.  The  day  following 
I  was  ordered  2  miles  south  of  Corinth,  and  on  the  7th  of  this  month 
was  ordered  to  this  post. 


88  HISTORY  OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

Those  in  the  battle,  with  few  exceptions,  stood  nobly  with  their 
colors,  dealing  death  and  destruction  to  £he  enemy  and  only  leaving 
their  place  when  severely  wounded  or  ordered  to  change  position. 

I  must  make  special  mention  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Parrott,  who 
with  great  bravery  and  coolness  cheered  and  encouraged  the  men  to 
renewed  vigor.  Nothing  but  the  most  undaunted  courage  and  bitter 
determination  could  have  been  successful  for  a  moment  in  holding  in 
check  the  overwhelming  numbers  that  pressed  down  upon  us  on  the 
3rd.  Yet  with  our  little  band  the  enemy  were  twice  checked  and  re 
pulsed. 

Before  we  were  ordered  to  the  last  line  on  Friday  my  ammunition 
was  entirely  exhausted. 

It  is  with  pleasure  I  make  favorable  mention  of  almost  all  my  offi 
cers  who  were  engaged  in  the  two  days'  battle.  Major  McMullen  did  effi 
cient  service  until  he  was  wounded  and  disabled  on  the  evening  of  the 
3rd.  Capt.  Conn,  although  wounded,  remained  with  his  command 
through  both  days'  battle.  Captains  Hedges  and  Mahon,  left  in  camp 
sick,  left  their  beds  and  came  on  the  battle-field  on  Saturday,  and  did 
efficient  service.  Their  companies  were  well  commanded  Friday  by 
Lieutenants  Dillin  and  Sergent.  Lieutenant  Gale  displayed  great  gal 
lantry,  and  was  very  severely  wounded  in  the  battle  of  the  4th,  after 
which  the  company  was  bravely  led  by  Lieutenant  Morrison.  Cap 
tains  Irvin  and  Reineger  also  performed  their  duties  nobly.  I  must 
also  mention  Lieutenants  Hope,  Loughridge,  Irwin,  McCormick,  Ben 
nett,  and  Bess.  Captain  Smith,  who  was  killed  in  the  last  hour  of  the 
battle  of  the  4th,  was  one  of  the  most  promising  young  officers  of  the 
service.  He  was  brave,  cool,  and  deliberate  in  battle,  and  very  efficient 
in  all  his  duties.  Color  Sergt.  Aleck  Field  was  wounded  in  the  bat 
tle  of  the  3rd.  Afterwards  the  colors  were  borne  by  William  Akers,  of 
Company  G,  who  was  also  wounded.  They  were  then  carried  by  George 
Craig,  of  Company  B,  all  the  color  guard,  with  the  exception  of  one, 
being  either  killed  or  wounded.  Sergeant-Ma j or  Cameron,  severely 
wounded,  must  not  escape  favorable  mention  for  his  bravery  and  valu 
able  duties  upon  the  field. 

While  it  is  a  pleasure  to  record  the  noble  and  heroic  conduct  of  so 
many  of  the  officers  and  men  we  mourn  the  loss  of  our  gallant  d'ead, 
sympathizing  deeply  with  the  unfortunate  wounded.  More  than  one- 
third  of  those  taken  into  action  are  wounded  or  lie  dead  beneath  the 
battle-field.  With  this  sad  record  we  can  send  to  Iowa  the  gratifying 
word  that  her  unfortunate  sons  fell  with  their  faces  to  the  enemy,  bat 
tling  gloriously  for  their  country's  holy  cause. 

Surgeon  Lake  (to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  the  remarkagle  healthy 
condition  of  my  command)  and  his  assistant  labored  day  and  night  to 
alleviate  the  sufferings  of  the  wounded. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY 


89 


We  captured  a  number  of  prisoners  and  one  stand  of  rebel  colors. 

The  death  of  Brigadier-General  Hackleman  cast  a  gloom  over  all 
who  were  under  his  command.  His  coolness,  bravery,  and  eminent  abil 
ity  secured  for  him  the  entire  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  under  His 
command,  and  I  beg  leave  to  expess  for  my  command  the  entire  confi 
dence  they  repose  in  yourself  and  Brigadier-General  Davies. 

"With  sentiments  of  high  regard,  colonel,  I  am,  very  truly,  your 
obedient  servant, 

ELLIOTT  W.  RICE, 
Colonel  Seventh  Iowa  Infantry. 
Col  T.  W.  SWEENY, 

Commanding  First  Brigade,  Second  Division. 


IN    THE   RIFLE   PIT. 


90  •          HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 


REPORT    OF    COL.    THOMAS    W.    SWEENY. 

Headquarters  First  Brigade,  Second  Division, 

October  15,  1862. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  part 
taken  by  this  brigade  in  the  battle  of  Corinth,  on  the  3rd  and  4th  in 
stant,  and  the  subsequent  pursuit  of  the  enemy. 

In  compliance  with  orders  from  division  headquarters  we  left  Camp 
Montgomery  at  daybreak  on  the  3rd  with  three  Jays'  rations  in  haver 
sacks,  and  marched  through  Corinth  to  the  rebel  breastworks,  about  2^ 
miles  northwest  of  the  town,  where  we  formed  line  of  battle.  General 
Sullivan's  brigade  took  position  on  a  hill  about  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  on  our  right,  and  General  Oglesby's  brigade  immediately  on  our 
left.  I  detailed  two  companies  of  the  Ffty-second  Illinois  and  posted 
them  about  400  yards  to  the  right  of  the  brigade  to  watch  the  move 
ments  of  the  enemy  in  that  direction.  We  formed  line  of  battle  when 
first  we  went  out  about  1  mile  in  rear  of  the  above  position.  From 
this  point  we  were  ordered  by  General  Davies  to  send  forward  one  regi 
ment  of  infantry  to  support  a  section  of  artillery  and  to  feel  the  enemy. 
The  Seventh  Iowa  was  sent  forward  as  far  as  the  breastworks,  which 
the  brigade  occupied  shortly  afterward.  This  regiment  penetrated  the 
swamps  on  the  left  of  our  position  and  reported  no  enemy  there.  About 
10  a.m.  our  skirmishers,  who  had  been  thrown  out  in  front  of  the  breast 
works,  met  those  of  the  enemy,  and  sharp  firing  continued  for  a  few 
minutes,  when  our  skirmishers  fell  back  behind  the  breastworks.  The 
artillery  now  opened  a  brisk  fire,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  Second  Bri 
gade,  commanded  by  General  Oglesby,  was  hotly  engaged  with  the 
enemy,  the  latter  charging  in  heavy  columns  on  the  breastworks  in  the 
face  of  a  well  directed  fire  of  artillery  and  infantry.  After  a  sharp 
struggle  the  Second  Brigade  gave  way  before  overpowering  numbers  of 
the  enemy,  leaving  our  left  flank  entirely  exposed.  The  artillery  con 
tinued  pouring  grape  and  cannister  into  the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  appar 
ently  without  effect,  though  they  must  have  suffered  severely.  Word 
was  now  sent  to  General  Davies  of  the  condition  of  things  in  front,  who 
ordered  the  line  to  fall  back.  The  Second  division  fell  back  about  half 
a  mile,  the  First  Brigade  retiring  in  perfect  order,  when  we  again 
formed  line  of  battle  in  an  open  field;  but  the  enemy  appearing  on  our 
left  flank,  our  lines  fell  back  still  farther  and  took  up  a  position  in  front 
of  the  white  house,  this  brigade  occupying  the  extreme  right. 

The  regiments  composing  the  brigade  were  posted  as  follows:  The 
Fifty-second  Illinois  on  the  right,  the  Second  Iowa  on  the  left  of  the 
Fifty-second,  and  the  Seventh  Iowa  on  the  left  of  the  Second.  The 
Union  Brigade  came  up  at  this  point  from  Danville  and  was  posted  on 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  91 

the  left  of  the  battery,  which  was  in  position  on  the  left  of  the  Seventh 
Iowa. 

About  2  p.  m.  a  sharp  artillery  duel  commenced  between  our  bat 
tery  and  that  of  the  enemy,  which  was  posted  about  600  yards  in  front  of 
our  line  near  the  white  house,  which  was  subsequently  converted  into  a 
temporary  hospital.  While  this  was  going  on  I  suggested  to  General 
Hackleman  the  necessity  of  taking  some  measures  to  protect  our  right 
flank,  there  being  none  of  our  troops  in  that  direction  as  far  as  I  could 
see,  and  the  enemy's  columns  could  be  plainly  seen  moving  that  way. 
With  his  permission  I  placed  the  Ffty-second  Illinois  in  position  across 
the  railroad  about  200  yards  on  our  right.  The  enemy's  skirmishers 
were  seen  in  the  woods  at  this  point,  but  after  exchanging  a  few  shots 
with  us  they  hastily  withdrew.  After  a  careful  reconnaisance  I  was 
convinced  that  the  rebels  gave  up  the  idea  of  attacking  us  at  this  point, 
and  moved  the  regiment  back  to  its  original  position  on  the  right  of 
the  brigade.  It  had  hardly  been  placed  in  line  when  the  enemy  burst 
from  the  woods  in  front  in  magnificent  style  in  columns  by  divisions, 
and  moved  swiftly  across  the  open  field  until  within  point-blank  range, 
when  they  deployed  into  line  and  opened  a  tremendous  fire,  moving 
steadily  to  the  front  all  the  time.  Our  men,  who  had  been  ordered  to 
lie  down,  now  rose  and  poured  in  their  fire  with  such  deadly  effect  that 
the  foe,  after  a  short  but  sanguinary  struggle,  reeled,  broke,  and  fled  in 
dismay.  Again  they  advanced,  but  were  forced  back  at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet  with  great  slaughter,  our  men  driving  them  across  the  open 
field  and  into  the  woods. 

It  was  in  this  charge  that  brave  Col.  Baker  fell  mortally  wounded. 
His  last  words.  "I  die  content;  I  have  seen  my  regiment  victoriously 
charging  the  enemy,"  were  worthy  of  him.  The  enemy  now  receiving 
heavy  re-enforcements,  the  fighting  between  him  and  the  Ffty-second 
Illinois  and  Second  and  Seventh  Iowa  became  desperately  fierce,  the 
right  of  the  Union  Brigade  having  given  way  at  the  very  beginning 
of  the  engagement.  Just  at  this  juncture  part  of  Mower's  brigade 
moved  up  to  our  support,  but  before  they  could  be  deployed  into  line 
they  become  panic-stricken  and  broke  in  confusion. 

It  was  while  endeavoring  to  rally  these  men  that  Generals  Hackle 
man  and  Oglesby  were  wounded.  The  former  received  his  death-wound 
while  thus  rallying  troops  to  sustain  his  own  gallant  brfgade.  His  last 
words  were,  "I  am  dying,  but  I  die  for  my  country.  If  we  are  victo 
rious,  send  my  remains  home;  if  not,  bury  me  on  the  field."  No  nobler 
sentiment  was  ever  uttered  by  soldier  or  patriot.  After  he  fell  the  com 
mand  of  the  brigade  devolved  upon  me,  and  the  fight  continued  with 
unabated  fury  until  our  ammunition  was  almost  expended;  but  by  this 
time  the  enemy  had  almost  disappeared  from  our  front,  although  it 
was  evident  he  was  massing  his  troops  on  our  left,  for  the  purpose  of 


92  HISTORY    OP   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

turning  our  flank.  About  this  time  a  regiment  of  Colonel  Mower's  bri 
gade  relieved  the  Fifty-second  Illinois,  which  was  out  of  ammunition, 
and  an  order  being  received  from  General  Davies  a  few  minutes  after 
to  fall  back,  we  retired  in  good  order  and  took  positions  on  the 
right  of  Fort  Robinett.  It  was  now  5  p.  m.,  and  a  fresh  supply  of  am 
munition  was  here  distributed  to  the  troops. 

Our  loss  in  this  fight  was  heavy,  but  that  of  the  enemy  must  have 
been  terrible.  The  fire  was  so  hot  and  well  sustained  by  the  men  that 
several  officers  of  the  Fifty-second  Illinois  told  me  that  the  gun-barrels 
were  so  heated  the  men  could  scarcely  hold  them,  and  the  charges  ac 
tually  exploded  while  being  loaded,  and  wanted  to  know  what  they 
would  do.  I  told  them  to  continue  the  fire,  if  necessary,  until  the  guns 
burst.  About  10  p.  m.  I  received  an  order  to  move  my  brigade  to  the 
rear  of  General  Ord's  old  headquarters  and  form  line  of  battle  facing 
to  the  north.  From  this  place  I  was  ordered  about  2:30  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  4th  to  take  position  on  the  Purdy  road,  in  the  suburbs 
of  the  town,  to  the  north,  the  right  of  my  brigade  resting  on  the  redan 
occupied  by  Lieutenant  Green,  of  the  First  Missouri  Artillery,  with 
four  guns.  Two  more  were  placed  in  the  interval  between  the  Fifty- 
second  Illinois  and  Second  Iowa.  Here  the  brigade  stacked  arms  in 
line  of  battle  and  bivouaced  till  daybreak. 

From  early  dawn  until  8  a.  m.  a  brisk  fire  was  kept  up  between 
our  batteries  and  those  of  the  enemy  until  the  latter  were  silenced  or 
captured.  About  this  time  I  received  orders  to  send  out  a  regiment  from 
my  brigade  to  the  support  of  Colonel  Burke's  sharpshooters,  who  were 
then  sharply  engaged  with  the  enemy  in  the  woods  to  the  right  and 
front  of  my  position.  The  Seventh  Iowa  was  detached  for  this  purpose, 
but  had  scarcely  been  deployed  when  it  was  recalled.  I  also  ordered  in 
two  companies,  sent  out  the  night  before  to  guard  the  Purdy  road  on 
our  right.  An  ominous  silence  took  place  for  a  few  moments,  when  a 
sharp  rattling  of  musketry  was  heard,  accompanied  by  heavy  volleys, 
and  the  enemy's  columns  burst  through  the  woods  in  front  and  to  the 
right,  driving  the  sharpshooters  before  them  and  following  close  upon 
their  heels.  Colonel  Burke's  regiment  fought  like  heroes  and  disputed 
every  inch  of  ground  as  they  fell  back  on  my  position.  I  cautioned 
my  men,  who  were  lying  on  the  ground,  to  reserve  their  fire  until  the 
enemy  got  within  point-blank  range,  and  then  fire  low  and  keep  per 
fectly  cool.  It  was  a  terribly  beautiful  sight  to  see  the  enemy's  col 
umns  advance,  in  despite  of  a  perfect  storm  of  grape  and  cannister,  shell 
and  rifle  ball;  still  on  they  marched  and  fired,  though  their  ranks  were 
perceptibly  thinned  at  every  step.  The  brigade  stood  firm  as  a  rock, 
and  the  men  loaded  and  fired  with  the  coolness  a,nd  precision  of  vet 
erans,  when  all  of  a  sudden  the  troops  on  the  right  of  the  redan  (a  bri 
gade  of  Hamilton's  division)  gave  way  and  broke.  The  Fist  Missouri 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  93 

Artillery,  in  the  redan,  and  the  two  pieces  on  the  left  of  the  Ffty-sec- 
ond,  limbered  up  and  galloped  off  in  wild  confusion  through  our  re 
serves,  killing  several  of  our  men  and  scattering  the  rest.  My  line  re 
mained  still  unbroken,  pouring  deadly  volleys  into  the  enemy's  ranks, 
who,  taking  advantage  of  the  panic  on  the  right,  moved  their  columns 
obliquely  in  that  direction  and  charged  up  the  redan.  Unfortunately 
the  officer  in  command  of  the  Fifty-second  Illinois,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Wilcox,  instead  of  meeting  the  enemy  boldly,  ordered  the  regiment  to 
fall  back  without  authority,  and  before  I  could  halt  it  the  regiment 
broke.  The  Union  Brigade  gave  way  simultaneously  with  the  Fifty- 
second,  but  portions  of  the  Second  and  Seventh  Iowa  still  held  their 
ground  and  kept  the  enemy  in  check  until  the  rest  of  my  brigade  was 
rallied,  when  I  ordered  the  colors  of  the  Second  and  Seventh  Iowa  to 
fall  back  and  form  their  regiments  on  the  side  hill,  out  of  range  of  the 
enemy's  fire,  which  they  did  almost  immediately.  I  now  ordered  the  line 
to  charge  on  the  enemy,  who  had  by  this  time  gained  the  crest  of  the 
hill  in  our  front.  With  a  shout  that  was  heard  through  our  whole  lines 
the  men  of  the  First  Brigade  rushed  upon  the  enemy.  Those  who  had 
given  way  a  short  time  before,  being  evidently  ashamed  of  the  momen 
tary  panic  that  had  seized  them,  seemed  determined  to  wipe  out  the 
stain  upon  their  courage  by  their  reckless  daring.  The  foe,  reluctant  to 
abandon  the  advantage  he  had  gained,  fought  stubbornly  for  a  while, 
but  was  finally  compelled  to  give  way,  retreating  in  great  confusion 
through  the  swamps  and  abatis  to  the  woods,  hotly  pursued  by  our  men. 
Here  I  stopped  the  pursuit  until  the  batteries  on  the  hill  to  our  left  and 
rear  should  cease  firing,  as  they  shelled  the  ground  directly  in  front  of 
us.  I  sent  an  order  to  that  effect  to  the  officer  in  command  of  the  bat 
tery,  and  the  firing  ceased  in  a  short  time.  I  detailed  some  men  of  my 
brigade  to  work  one  of  the  recaptured  guns,  there  being  no  artillery 
men  present,  and  "General  Lyon"  (the  name  of  gun)  did  good  execu 
tion  on  the  flying  enemy. 

In  this  charge  we  retook  the  rednn  nnd  the  guns  tFiat  were  aban 
doned  by  the  artillery,  12G  prisoners,  and  4  stands  of  colors.  Among  the 
prisoners  were  3  colonels,  4  captains,  and  3  lieutenants.  Thus  ended 
the  battle  of  the  4th. 

On  Friday  morning  the  brigade  left  Camp  Montgomery  with  77 
commissioned  officers  and  1,021  enlisted  men.  The  Union  Brigade  joined 
it  that  afternoon  with  15  commissioned  officers  and  326  men,  making  a 
total  of  92  commissioned  officers  and  1,347  men. 

On  Saturday  night  we  bivouaced  on  the  field,  so  warmly  contested 
that  day,  with  a  loss  of  31  commissioned  officers  and  38G  enlisted  men, 
thus  showing  a  loss  of  one-third  of  the  brigade  during  the  two  days' 
conflict  of  the  3rd  and  4th. 


94  HISTORY   OF  THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

On  Sunday  morning  we  commenced  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and 
proceeded  by  the  Chew'alla  road  as  far  as  Ruckersville,  from  which 
place  we  were  ordered  back,  and  arrived  at  Camp  Montgomery  on  the 
12th,  much  fatigued,  but  in  good  spirits. 

.On  the  5th  instant  the  Second  and  Seventh  Iowa  were  detached 
from  my  brigade  and  ordered  back  to  Corinth  to  report  to  General 
Rosecrans. 

On  the  6th  I  was  detached,  with  a  regiment  of  infantry  (the  Fifty- 
second  Illinois)  and  a  section  of  artillery,  to  guard  the  passage  of  the 
river  at  Young's  Bridge,  on  the  Tuscumbia.  While  making  the  neces 
sary  preparations  for  that  purpose  I  received  information  from  skir 
mishers  which  I  had  thrown  across  the  river  that  mounted  pickets  were 
seen  in  the  woods  about  half  a  mile  in  front.  I  gave  orders  to  ad 
vance  cautiously  and  find  out  who  they  were.  In  a  short  time  a  pris 
oner  was  brought  in,  who  informed  me  that  he  belonged  to  a  Kansas 
regiment  of  cavalry,  two  companies  of  which  were  thrown  out  as  scouts 
to  watch  the  ford  I  was  guarding,  and  that  they  Felonged  to  Colonel 
Lee's  command,  which  was  at  Bone  Yard,  9  miles  distant.  I  sent  across 
the  river  for  the  officers  of  this  detachment  and  they  confirmed  the 
statement  of  the  prisoner.  A  little  before  this  I  received  a  note  from 
General  Davies,  informing  me  that  the  enemy  were  completely  routed 
and  dispersed  in  the  woods  and  to  join  my  command  immediately. 
This  news  I  communicated  to  Captain  Houston,  of  the  Kansas  Scouts, 
and  requested  him  to  inform  Colonel  Lee  of  it,  that  he  might  take  the 
necessary  steps  to  intercept  and  cut  off  the  flying  enemy. 

Before  closing  this  report  I  gladly  bear  witness  to  the  heroic  con 
duct  of  officers  and  men  of  this  brigade,  who  so  nobly  fought,  bled,  and 
died  to  sustain  the  honor  of  that  glorious  flag  under  whose  folds  they 
had  so  often  marched  to  victory.  Particularly  do  I  regret  the  loss  of  the 
heroic  General  Hackleman,  the  gallant  Colonel  Baker,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Mills  (Second  Iowa),  and  the  chivalric  Lieutenant  Brainard, 
Fifty-second  Illinois.  I  also  acknowledge  the  valuable  services  ren 
dered  me  by  Captains  Randall  and  Lovell,  assistant  adjutant-generals, 
and  Lieutenant  Everts,  aide-de-camp,  on  Saturday,  the  4th. 

Dr.  E.  Winchester,  surgeon  of  the  Fifty-second  Illinois,  deserves 
great  credit  for  his  indefatigable  exertions  during  the  battle  in  alleviat 
ing  the  suffering  of  the  wounded.  While  in  charge  of  the  principal 
nospital  at  the  Corinth  House,  during  the  shelling  of  the  town  by  the 
enemy,  on  the  morning  of  the  4th,  he  removed  nearly  10U  patients  from 
there  to  a  place  of  safety  with  no  other  assistance  than  that  rendered 
him  by  Dr.  Rohr,  of  the  Fifty-second  Illinois,  and  some  of  the  proprie 
tors  of  the  Corinth  House. 

My  orderlies  also  did  me  good  service  on  the  4th,  particularly  John 
Colley  and  Michael  F.  Mee,  of  the  Fifth  Ohio  Cavalry,  the  latter  being 


J.  B.  MORRISON,  LIEUT.  CO.  "  D."  ?TH  IOWA. 
Aide-de-camp  1st  Brig.,  rid  Div.,  16th  A.  C. 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  95 

severely  wounded  in  the  head  and  the  former  Saving  two  balls  pass 
through  his  clothes — one  through  his  hat  and  the  other  through  the 
leg  of  his  pants — while  in  the  performance  of  their  duty. 

Lieutenant  Maxwell,  of  the  Union  Brigade,  seeing  the  colors  of  his 
regiment  in  the  hands  of  a  rebel,  gallantly  rushed  into  the  ranks  of  the 
enemy,  rescued  the  colors,  and  brought  them  back  in  triumph  to  his 
regiment. 

Private  Murray,  of  Company  E,  Fifty-second  Illinois,  when  the 
regiment  fell  back  from  the  redan,  refused  to  retire,  saying  "it  was  Col 
onel  Sweeny's  orders  to  hold  the  fort  to  the  last."  He  was  ordered  by  a 
rebel  captain  to  surrender,  and  upon  his  refusing  to  do  so  was  fired  at 
and  wounded  in  the  hand  by  the  captain's  revolver;  whereupon  Murray 
shot  him  dead.  He  was  then  attacked  by  a  private,  whom  he  also 
dispatched.  He  brought  off  the  captain's  revolver  as  a  trophy  of  his 
bravery.  By  this  time  our  troops  rallied,  "came  to  his  rescue,  and  drove 
the  rebels  out  of  the  redan. 

Captain  Wilcox,  of  the  Fifty-second  Illinois,  was  taken  sick  on  the 
morning  of  the  3rd,  and  in  consequence  did  not  participate  in  the  en 
gagements  of  either  the  3rd  or  4th.  As  for  myself,  the  only  injury  I 
sustained  was  having  my  horse  shot  under  me.  A  spent  ball  struck  me 
on  the  right  leg,  but  did  no  harm. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  W.  SWEENY. 
Comdg.  First  Brig.,  Second  Div.,  Army  of  West  Tennessee. 


On  the  7th  of  October  we  went  to  Rienza  where  we  did  outpost 
duty  for  a  short  time,  thence  to  Boneyard,  Miss.,  10  miles  from  Corinth, 
where  we  established  camp  continuing  outpost  and  vidette  duty.  The 
weather  was  cold  and  disagreeable,  being  wet,  with  snow,  some 
thing  unusual  in  Mississippi.  The  duty  here  was  arduous;  men  be- 
ins  required  to  do  picket  duty  every  other  night,  with  many  sick  and 
exhausted  from  the  late  strenuous  battle  and  marching.  While  here 
our  rations  were  short,  necessitating  more  or  less  foraging  from  the 
country  to  appease  hunger.  Nicholas  Hoit  and  four  men  of  Co.  "C," 
were  surprised  and  taken  prisoners  by  rebel  cavalry  while  out  on 
an  expedition  after  food.  They  were  taken  to  Holly  Springs,  thence 
to  Jackson,  and  with  twelve  others  taken  to  Vicksburg,  Miss.;  it  was 
ordered  that  four  of  the  party  should  be  retained  as  hostages  and  were 
required  to  draw  lots  to  see  who  should  be  the  unfortunate  four;  Hoit 
was  one  of  the  number  and  they  were  put  in  close  confinement  in  the 
jail,  until  a  few  days  before  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  when  they 
were  relieved  as  hostages  and  allowed  the  privilege  of  the  jail  yard 


96  HISTORY   OP   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

as  ordinary  prisoners  of  war.  Just  before  the  surrender  all  prisoners 
there  were  paroled  and  sent  to  St.  Louis. 

On  the  30th  of  October,  1862,  Brigadier  General  G.  M.  Dodge 
succeeded  General  Davies  in  the  command  of  the  Division;  subsequent 
ly  he  was  promoted  to  Major  General  and  given  command  of  the  left 
wing  of  the  16th  Army  Corps,  which  he  retained  until  the  18th  of 
August,  1864,  when  he  was  serverely  wounded  in  a  rifle  pit  before  and 
at  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  his  severe 
wound.  During  all  this  time  we  were  under  his  immediate  command. 

It  was  not  until  the  winter  of  1862  that  the  army  in  the  west 
was  organized  into  army  corps,  when  the  13th  Corps  was  made  up  of 
troops  under  Grant's  army  and  he  was  put  in  command  of  the  same, 
with  General  Sherman  commanding  the  right  wing  of  that  gorps.  Our 
Division  was  in  that  Corps  under  General  Grant. 

We  remained  at  Boneyard,  Miss.,  doing  outpost  duty  during  the 
winter  of  1862  and  '63.  It  was  a  desolate,  uninteresting  hamlet  with 
a  post  office  and  one  store,  our  supplies  had  to  be  hauled  through  the 
woods  and  swamps  by  team,  and  our  mail  by  mounted  couriers  who  had 
to  run  the  gauntlet  of  guerillas  who  infested  the  country.  Heavy 
details  also  had  to  be  sent  with  the  teams  to  guard  them  when  haul 
ing  the  supplies  from  Corinth  twelve. miles  distant. 

In  the  spring  we  broke  camp  and  marched  to  Bethel,  Tenn.,  on 
the  Mobile  and  Ohio  R.  R.  Headquarters  of  the  regiment  were  estab 
lished  at  Bethel,  with  some  of  the  companies  scattered  along  the  rail 
road  to  guard  bridges  and  patrol  the  road.  Captain  Reiniger  of  com 
pany  "B,"was  appointed  Provost  Marshal,  and  Co."B"was  sent  to  Farr's 
Mills.  We  relieved  an  Illinois  regiment  who  had  been  there  through 
the  winter.  They  had  built  log  huts  at  each  post,  with  stockades  for 
protection  in  case  of  attack  by  superior  forces.  As  we  had  left  our 
tents  at  Corinth  it  was  very  convenient  for  us  to  move  into  the  com 
fortable  quarters  vacated  by  these  regiments.  As  we  had  nothing  to  do 
but  patrol  the  road  once  a  day  and  guard  the  bridges,  to  keep  the 
rebel  cavalry  or  disloyal  citizens  from  burning  bridges  and  destroy 
ing  our  communication,  we  had  the  most  comfortable  and  easiest 
time  of  our  whole  service. 

We  found  some  of  the  citizens  of  the  country  very  loyal  and 
congenial.  During  our  stay  there  a  regiment  of  cavalry  was  raised 
at  Purdy,  the  county  seat,  which  was  only  six  miles  distant.  As  we 
felt  that  we  were  in  a  country  with  some  loyal  friends,  and  the  regi 
ment  was  so  scattered  that  dress  parade,  drill  and  inspection  were  not 
required  and  duty  light,  for  diversion  all  hands  tSrew  aside  restraint 
and  set  out  to  have  a  good  time  after  the  rigorous  service  we  had 
passed  through. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  97 

Company  "B"  built  a  log  building  20x40  for  a  ball  room,  took 
up  part  of  the  floor  of  Fair's  mill  and  relaid  it  in  our  company  hall 
to  dance  on.  The  roof  was  covered  with  shakes  rove  by  hand  out  of 
the  adjoining  timber,  where  all  material  except  floor  was  obtained; 
all  being  constructed  by  the  work  and  ingenuity  of  the  men.  When 
completed  it  was  quite  a  creditable  building,  if  it  was  somewhat  crude. 
The  hall  was  opened  by  a  grand  ball  given  by  company  "B,"  to  which 
all  the  regimental  officers  and  some  others  were  invited.  As  it  was 
to  be  a  swell  affair,  great  preparations  were  made  for  the  ban 
quet  and  opening.  Billy  Mason  was  chosen  floor  manager,  Lieut.  Fol- 
som  fiddler,  with  the  orderly  sergeant  as  first  asssistant.  Dave  An 
drews  was  put  in  charge  of  the  cuisine  and  menu,  with  nigger  George 
as  cook.  Dave  secured  some  dried  apples  somewhere  and  real  butter 
from  the  country; so  that  with  coffee  and  our  army  rations  we  had  a 
great  feast.  We  had  slumgullion,  desicated  potatoes,  boiled  ham,  fried 
bacon,  soft  bread,  hard  tack,  coffee  with  brown  sugar  and  condensed 
milk,  pie  and  apple  pie,  butter. on  two  plates,  and  apple  sauce  all  over 
the  table;  with  commisary  cigars  for  the  men  and  snuff  for  the  ladies 
to  chew,  and  gum  for  those  who  did  not  dip. 

The  banquet  and  ball  were  held  in  the  afternoon,  as  the  mama's 
objected  to  have  the  girls  go  to  camp  after  dark.  There  were  no  spring 
vehicles  in  the  country — everybody  in  that  country  goes  horseback.  As 
we  had  nothing  but  heavy  wagons,  we  borrowed  the  army  mules  of  the 
wagon  master  to  convey  the  ladies  in  from  the  country.  The  writer 
succeeded  in  getting  two  mules  to  convey  two  girls  he  had  engaged; 
one  rode  behind  him,  the  other  riding  the  off  mule  by  his  side  with 
an  army  blanket  for  a  saddle. 

"After  the  feast  the  tables  were  carried  out  and  the  floor  cleared 
for  the  dance.  Billy  Mason,  the  manager,  had  got  hold  of  a  paper 
collar  somewhere,  put  bacon  grease  on  his  hair,  blacked  his  shoes,  so 
that  with  his  important  position,  suave  manners  and  general  good 
looks,  he  rather  put  the  rest  of  the  company  in  the  shade  and  was 
the  favored  of  the  ladies  and  the  envy  of  the  rest  of  the  boys.  Col. 
Parrott  with  Katy  —.the  belle  of  the  balliwick,led  the  grand  march,with 
Adjutant  Bowler  and  other  officers  in  dress  suits.  Lieut.  Folsom 
agitated  the  feline  intestines  on  the  fiddle  that  brought  out  the  pat 
riotic  goose  pimples  all  over  us,  and  with  feelings  of  pride, 
the  festivities  went  off  with  eclat  and  ES-Spirit-DE  CORPS,  or 
something  of  that  kind — at  any  rate  it  went  off.  The  program  consist 
ed  mostly  of  Virginia  Reel,  Money  Musk,  cotillions  and  other  flat  dances 
as  the  people  in  that  country  did  not  know  much  about  the  round 
dances.  After  a  while  Billy  Mason,  the  floor  manager,  thought  he 
would  like  to  change  to  a  round  dance.  The  leader  of  the  orchestra 
was  asked  to  play  a  waltz  and  Billy  started  to  show  them  how  to  do 


98  HISTORY   OP   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

it.  I  was  sitting  next  to  Bily's  girl,  she  was  an  ancient  dame  of  gothic 
style  of  architecture,  with  stained  amber  teeth,  made  so  by  snuff  dip 
ping  which  many  of  the  ladies  of  the  soutn  were  addicted  to,  when  he 
came  up  to  her  in  his  most  gallant  and  persuasive  manner  and  asked 
her  to  waltz  with  him.  She  declined,  giving  as  a  reason  that'lt  made 
her  puke."  That  settled  it,  the  round  dances  were  given  up.  I  told 
some  of  the  boys  of  her  answer,  and  ever  afterwards  the  by-word  to 
Billy  Was,  "Oh,  go  off,  you  make  me  puke."  He  threatened  to  murder 
me  for  it,  but  never  did. 

Dan.  Shannon,  of  company  "B,"  married  a  girl  residing  near 
there,  built  a  cabin  in  the  camp,  lived  with  her  while  we  staid  and  af 
ter  the  war  brought  her  to  Iowa  and  lived  with  her  until  he  died. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  1863,  companies  of  the  regiment  were  got 
together  for  the  first  time  since  early  spring,  broke  camp  and  march 
ed  to  Corinth,  where  we  arrived  on  the  next  day  and  re-united  with 
the  brigade;  which  now  consisted  of  the  2nd  and  7th  Iowa,  the  52nd 
Ills.,  and  66th  Indiana. 

We  established  camp  inside  the  heavy  fortifications  of  the 
town;  as  all  indications  pointed  to  wintering  there,  we  proceeded  to 
erect  permanent  quarters,  when  not  engaged  in  drilling,  picket  duty, 
or  target  practice.  Most  of  the  men  being  handy  with  tools  and  with 
al  ingenious,  some  being  mechanics,  frame  buildings  were  erected 
instead  of  tents,  material  being  had  from  the  adjoining  woods  and 
abandoned  houses  in  the  town.  The  regimental  teams  were  sent  to  the 
timber,  with  details  of  men  with  axes,  under  guard,  where  timbers 
were  cut  and  hewed  for  frames  and  logs  got  out,  of  which  shingles 
and  siding  were  rove  by  hand  with  crude  tools  made  by  the  regimen 
tal  blacksmiths.  The  regimental  streets  were  laid  out  systematically 
and  the  houses  built  somewhat  uniformly,  giving  them  a  neat  ana 
comfortable  appearance.  They  were  nicely  cleaned  and  policed  each 
day,  making  them  healthy  and  homelike;  but  we  had  no  sooner  got  nice 
ly  settled  in  them  when  we  were  ordered  away  and  they  had  to  be 
abandoned.  While  in  charge  of  the  details  getting  material  for  the 
buildings  outside  the  picket  line,  Levi  Bean,  wagon  master  of  our  regi 
ment,  was  ambushed  and  killed  by  the  guerillas  who  hovered  in  the 
woods  in  that  vicinity.  They  also  captured  prisoners  and  wounded 
others  of  the  different  commands  encamped  at  Corinth  and  the  out 
posts.  Aside  from  losses  in  this  manner,  the  troops  enjoyed  the  best 
health  during  their  service,  as  generally  the  rations  were  good,  we  got 
a  lot  of  fruit  and  vegetables  from  the  country,  and  we  had  time  and 
were  required  to  attend  to  the  sanitary  conditions  of  our  camps. 

During  our  stay  here  we  shot  for  desertion  two  members  of  the 
First  Alabama  cavalry  (Union).  The  regiment  was  raised  in  that  vicin 
ity.  The  victims  were  tried  by  court  martial  and  found  guilty;  they 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  99 

were  aggrevated  cases  in  that  they  had  deserted  the  second  time  and 
gave  information  to  the  enemy.  They  were  captured,  taken  in  Confed 
erate  uniform  fighting  our  cavalry;  the  evidence  showing  that  they  evi 
dently  enlisted  for  the  purpose  of  acting  as  spies  and  giving  Informa 
tion  to  our  enemies.  They  were  taken  out  on  the  common,  seated  on 
rough  coffins,  blind-folded  and  tied;  the  troops  being  paraded  in  three 
sides  of  a  hollow  square,  when  a  double  file  of  soldiers  were  told  off, 
who  were  given  muskets  loaded  by  others.  Two  guns  in  the  detail  were 
loaded  with  blank  cartridges,  so  that  no  one  of  the  firing  squad  knew 
for  a  certain  who  shot  them.  They  fired  in  a  volley  at  short  range. 
They  fell  over  backwards  off  their  coffins  with  scarcely  a  struggle,  when 
the  troops  were  marched  by  to  show  them  a  frightful  example  of  the 
penalty  of  desertion. 


A  SKIT   FROM  THE  DRUM  CORPS. 

The  following  hazardous  trip  by  Dunham  and  Akera  of  the  drum 
corps,  was  made  surreptitiousaly  and  without  leave  by  the  adventurous 
youths,  and  is  not  for  the  reading  of  the  girls  they  left  behind  in  Iowa. 
John  forgot  to  mention  that  the  missive  that  was  sent  them,  that 
decided  them  to  make  he  trip,  wound  up  with  the  following  original, 
fetching  pome. 

"Tis  hard  for  youens  to  sleep  in  camp; 

Tis  hard  for  youens  to  fight; 
Tis  hard  for  youens  through  snow  to  tramp; 

In  snow    to  sleep  at  night; 
But  harder  for  weans  from  youens  to  part, 

Since  youens  have  stolen  weans  heart." 

H.  I.  SMITH, 

Dear  Comrade:  I  have  no  particular  pride  in  having  been  a  party 
to  the  escapade  which,  at  your  request,  I  will  try  to  relate,  but  inas 
much  as  we  are  all  disposed  in  these  years  of  the  "sear  and  yellow 
leaf,"  to  draw  the  veil  of  charity  over  the  faults  and  failings  of  our 
comrades;  and  inasmuch  as  every  one  concerned  at  the  time — includ 
ing  dear  old  Col.  Parrott,  Captain  Hedges,  and  Mr.  Nelson  himself,  so 
generously  condoned,  an  offense  which  under  other  circumstances  and 
in  other  hands,  might  have  been  -severely  punished,  I  will  make  a 
clean  breast  of  the  whole  matter  and  throw  myself  and  my  comrade 
upon  the  mercy  of  the  court. 

During  our  long  and  pleasant  stay  at  Bethel,  Tenn.,  several  of 
our  comrades,  including  Jas.  Dunham,  whom  I  am  sure  all  will  remem 
ber  as  one  of  our  leading  drummers,  and  myself,  made  the  acquaint 
ance  of  some  very  nice  and  attractive  young  ladies  living  midway 


100  HISTORY   OP    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

between  Bethel  and  Purdy,  Tenn.  Most  of  us  were  members  of  a  string 
band,  and  on  numerous  occasions,  after  evening  had  thrown  her  sable 
mantle  over  the  camp  and  che  lights  were  out,  we  made  our  way  through 
the  devious  and  uncertain  windings  of  that  path  through  the  swamp, 
to  spend  a  few  hours  in  making  mirth  and  rather  poor  music. 

On  taking  our  departure  for  Corinth,  Miss.,  it  was  with  many 
protestations  of  undying  affection  and  fidelity,  and  with  solemn  prom 
ise  to  return,  should  fortune  favor  our  deep  laid  plans — and  kind  provi 
dence  spare  us  life  and  limb. 

On  the  night  of  July  3rd,  1863— can  it  be  that  that  was  forty 
years  ago — Dunham  and  myself  decided  to  make  the  perilous  ride.  The 
distance  from  Corinth  to  Purdy  was  about  thirty  miles,  and  the  in 
tervening  country,  having  been  given  over  to  tTIe  enemy,  was  lousy 
with  loose  "Johnny  Rebs,"  and  marauding  bands  of  all  descriptions. 

Dunham  had  previously  made  the  journey  alone,  and  being  an 
adept  at  this  particular  line — the  "preparation  for  de  arrange 
ments,"  as  the  sable  lass  at  Pulaski  said  to  Jim  Mclntire,  was  left  en 
tirely  to  him.  He  was  to  get  the  countersign  and  a  pair  of  horses, 
and  to  be  at  a  designated  and  secluded  spot  where  I  was  to,  and  did, 
meet  him.  I  was  surprised  to  find  that  he  had  Mr.  Nelson's,  the  sutler, 
mules.  But  it  was  too  late,  and  the  pulse  of  love's  young  dream,"  was 
beating  too  high  to  draw  back  then,  and  so  the  rabbits  were  headed 
toward  Purdy  and  "turned  loose."  Halted  by  tfie  pickets  "Jim"  dis 
mounted  and  gave  the  countersign  and  we  were  off,  as  I  well  remem 
ber,  with  a  strange  admixture  of  feelings,  between  those  wide  ex 
tremes  of  "Who's  afraid,"  and  "I  wish  I  hadn't." 

The  weird  forms  and  shadowy  phantoms  that  peopled  those  woods, 
and  the  awful  silence,  broken  only  by  the  bay  of  hounds  or  the  hoot 
of  the  owls,  will  never  be  forgotten.  We  had  passed  the  last  line  of 
breast  works  and  were  fully  ten  miles  from  Corinth  when  a  trifling 
accident  occurred  to  break  the  monotony  of  that  silent  ride. 

At  the  foot  of  a  sharp  and  rocky  decline,  down  which  we  had 
walked  the  mules,  we  came  upon  a  carriage  or  top  buggy  standing  in 
the  middle  of  the  road.  The  owner  had  no  doubt  heard  us  coming  and 
hurriedly  unhitching  his  horse,  had  concealed  himself  in  the  bushes. 
His  little  dog  had  remained  under  the  buggy,  and  as  I  rode  round  the 
vehicle  he  too  sought  the  cover  and  safety  of  the  bushes  and  was  stepped 
on  by  the  mule.  Of  all  the  unearthly  ki-yi-ing  that  he  set  up  no  mor 
tal  ever  heard.  We  had  pressing  business  on  ahead  and  so  did  not 
stop  to  play  the  "Good  Samaritan"  or  to  ask  or  make  explanations. 
I  should  say  that  we  were  unarmed,  and  realized  the  folly  of  lingering 
to  make  a  fine  target  for  those  whom  we  could  not  see. 

Nothing  further  occurred,  worthy  of  mention,  until  we  were 
within  ten  miles  of  Purdy — at  which  point  we  came  upon  three  horses 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  101 

tied  to  the  fence  just  beside  the  road.  Their  backs  were  still  wet  from 
the  saddle  blanket,  and  we  quickly  divined  that  their  owners  were 
asleep  just  over  the  fence.  There  was  one  very  large  roan  horse,  a  small 
bay  and  a  black  horse.  We  met  these  horsey  again  as  the  sequel  will 
show.  Fearing  that  we  might  be  followed  we  left  the  road  for  a  time 
and  waited  for  developments.  Being  satisfied  at  length  that  the  party 
were  as  'fraid  of  us  as  we  were  of  them,  we  returned  to  the  road  and 
pushed  on  toward  Purdy. 

Jim  led  the  way  to  a  thick  grove  of  young  hickories,  in  the  center 
of  which  we  dismounted  and  slept  until  daylight.  Resuming  our  jour 
ney  we  soon  arrived  at  the  home  of  some  young  lady  acquaintances 
who  were  cousins  to  the  girls  we  were  going  to  see.  The  household 
was  already  stirring  and  we  sat  on  our  mules  in  the  chip  yard  and 
chatted  and  joked  a  few  minutes,  and  then  galloped  away  to  cover  the 
half  mile  that  still  separated  us  from  our  friends.  This  family  never 
seemed  to  be  really  friendly,  but  we  always  attributed  that  to  the  fact 
that  we  preferred  the  society  of  their  cousins.  We  were  received  with 
boundless  welcome  and  a  bountiful  breakfast. 

The  old  gentleman  seemed  restless  and  uneasy.  Finally  he  took 
our  mules  out  of  the  stable  and  put  them  into  the  stone  basement  of 
the  barn — which  was  quite  dark — and  locked  them  in.  Then  he  said 
to  us,  "Now  I  want  you  folks  to  go  into  the  parlor  (?)  and  draw  the 
blinds,  and  remain  there."  You  may  imagine  how  such  a  cruel  and 
heartless  edict  as  that,  was  received — by  Dunham.  Well,  there  we 
staid  until  dinner,  after  which  we  bantered  the  girls  to  go  to  the 
woods  for  blackberries.  This  looked  braver  and  suited  us  much  bet 
ter  than  the  stuffy  little  room. 

Returning  for  tea  we  lingered  fondly — reluctant  to  say  what  we 
knew  would  probably  be  the  last  good-bye.  But  our  leave-taking  over 
we  were  at  length  on  the  homeward  journey  with  many  little  inci 
dents  to  chat  about.  Halting  for  a  few  minutes  at  the  "cousins"  we 
laughed  and  joked  with  them  and  with  their  parting  injunction  to 
"Look  out  for  'gorrillas,'  "  we  gave  them  a  sample  of  the  speed  of  the 
rabbits,  and  were  soon  out  of  sight.  Midway  between  this  house  and 
Purdy  we  were  making  good  time  over  a  nice  level  stretch  of  road, 
with  low  hazel  brush  on  our  left,  when  a  man  sprang  up  some  thirty 
or  forty  feet  to  the  front  and  left  of  us  and  commanded,  "halt."  But 
being  under  fair  headway  already  the  mules  responded  to  the  spurs, 
and  slipped  away  like  greased  lightning,  while  "bang" — "bang" — sa 
luted  our  ears  from  the  double-barreled  shot  gun  in  the  hands  of  the 
daddy  of  the  "Cousins."  At  least  this  is  the  way  we  figured  it  out. 
We  did  not  see  him  in  the  evening  and  the  entire  family  behaved 
peculiarly.  He  wanted  the  mules,  but  was  too  much  of  a  coward  to 


I    102  HISTORY    OP   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

stand  in  the  road,  and  take  them,  as  he  might  have  done,  after  dispos 
ing  of  us. 

To  pass  through  the  streets  of  Purdy  in  the  early  evening  was 
a  rather  ticklish  piece  of  business;  but  there  was  no  way  of  avoiding 
it.  We  entered  the  main  street  and  rode  leisurly  through  two  lines  of 
men  in  their  shirt  sleeves  sitting  on  porches  in  front  of  the  stores, 
shops  and  dwellings  that  lined  the  street  on  either  side.  When  we  had 
reached  the  suburbs,  we  quickened  our  pace  and  were  soon  two  or  three 
miles  out  of  town,  when  "Jim"  made  an  important  discovery.  We  were 
on  the  wrong  road,  and  there  was  nothing  to  do  but  to  return  to  an 
inter-section  of  streets  in  the  very  center  of  the  town.  This  we  did  as 
quietly  as  possible,  and  making  sure  that  we  were  right  this  time,  we 
showed  Purdy  a  lot  of  clean  heels,  until  we  were  beyond  danger  from 
that  source. 

The  night  wore  away  without  incident,  until  we  were  within  a- 
bout  ten  miles  of  Corinth.  Our  comrades  will  remember  that  rocky  hill, 
with  precepitous  sides,  covered  ith  logs,  rock,  and  brush,  I  think  it 
was  called  the  "hog  back." 

We  were  passing  along  this  narrow  road,  at  a  lively  pace,  our 
mules  making  a  good  deal  of  clatter  over  the  stones,  when  I  remarked 
to  Dunham  that  I  saw  something  ahead.  "So  do  I"  said  "Jim",  what  is 
that?  "I  don't  know"  I  replied;  "but  come  on,  we  must  go  through 
it  whatever  it  is."  I  really  thought  it  was  horses  or  cattle  bunched  in 
the  road.  We  put  the  mules  down  to  their  level  best,  and  I  am  sure  we 
created  the  impression  that  a  cavalry  regiment  was  coming  in  full 
charge.  We  were  within  forty  yards  of  the  obstruction,  when  suddenly 
tongues  of  fire  leaped  from  a  half  dozen  muskets  and  lit  up  the  whole 
situation,  dissolving  the  mystery  in  short  order  and  filling  the  astound 
ed  woods  with  what  seemed  nothing  less  than  billows  of  thunder. 
"The  obstruction"  was  a  party  of  men,  half  a  dozen  I  should  say,  who 
were  picking  up  negroes,  for  some  purpose,  probably  to  work  on  south 
ern  fortifications. 

We  were  surprised  to  meet  again  the  same  three  horses,  which 
we  had  seen  tied  to  the  fence  near  Purdy  the  night  before,  and  on  each 
of  these  horses  they  had  securely  tied  two  strapping  negroes,  who  were 
so  frightened  that  they  looked  pale  by  moonlight.  On  hearing  us  ap 
proach,  they  had  arranged  their  horses,  "quartering"  across  the  road 
and  had  concealed  themselves  as  best  they  could  behind  their  fore 
quarters  and  legs,  and  stooping  so  as  to  get  their  guns  under  the  necks 
of  the  horses,  they  let  drive  at  us,  and,  of  course,  overshot  us.  They 
evidently  thought  that  Napoleon's  "Old  Guard"  was  in  full  charge,  for 
seeing  that  their  fire  had  not  arrested  our  speed,tfiey  scattered  like  par 
tridges  into  the  brush,  while  our  mules  dashed  into  and  slipped  through 
their  barricade  of  horses  and  negroes.  They  must  have  felt  cheap,  to 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  103 

find  that  we  were  but  two  "yanks,"  for  we  gave  them  the  "horse  laugh" 
and  plenty  of  "sass"  as  far  as  we  could  make  them  hear.  This  too 
lengthy  story  is  about  ended.  We  had  settled  down  to  the  serious 
question  of  getting  through  the  lines,  disposing  of  our  mules,  and 
slipping  into  our  quarters.  As  we  turned  into  the  inclosure  formed  by 
the  short  apron  in  front  of  and  protecting  the  opening  in  the  works, 
four  men  simultaneously  rose  up  out  of  the  earth,  as  it  seemed  to  us, 
and  we  received  the  order  to  halt.  We  were  trapped  and  so  we  halted. 
J.  R.  Nelson,  for  he  was  one  of  the  four  men  approached  me,  and  ask  od 
"Is  that  you  Akers"?  I  replied  "Yes,  its  all  that's  left  of  me."  "Well" 
he  continued,  "I  did  not  expect  to  find  you  here" — I  retorted  quickly, 
"I  did  not  expect  you  would  either."  After  an  awkward  moment 
of  silence,  he  directed  the  others  to  bring  Dunham,  and  said  "Akers 
you  come  with  me."  As  we  rode'  silently  for  a  few  minutes,  I  said, 
"Well  Mr.  Nelson,  I  suppose  you  intend  to  make  me -all  the  trouble  you 
can  for  this  business."  "When  I  found  my  mules  were  gone"  he  re 
marked,  "of  course  I  was  very  angry,  and  I  said  I'd  give  the  boys  who 
had  taken  them,  the  full  benefit  of  the  law,  if  I  ever  got  hold  of  them" 
A  moment  more- of  silence — "But  now  that  I  know  you  did  it  without 
any  real  malicious  or  criminal  intent,  and  seeing  that  you  have  re 
turned  the  mules,  I  feel  differently  and  so  far  as  I  am  concerned  the 
matter  shall  be  dropped.  "Of  Bourse,"  he  continued,  "I  promptly  re 
ported  the  matter  to  Colonel  Parrott  and  he  will  no  doubt  feel  com 
pelled  to  take  some  notice  of  it;  but  I  shall  use  my  influence  to  have 
your  punishment  made  as  light  as  possible." 

I  remember  how  in  my  embarrassment  and  gratitude,  I  tried  to 
thank  him  for  such  kind  and  generous  treatment.  He  talked  to  me 
like  a  father  to  his  returning  "prodigal"  and  simply  said  at  last,  "Give 
me  the  mule  and  go  to  your  quarters." 

In  the  moring  Col.  Parrott  sent  for  me,  and  I  got  another  good, 
kind,  scolding — without  one  word  that  hurt.  I  remained  two  weeks 
in  my  quarters  under  arrest,  at  the  end  of  which  the  Colonel  sent  for 
me  again.  I  found  my  captain — Capt.  Christian  Hedges — with  the 
Colonel,  and  after  giving  me  a  seat  Col.  Parrott  said,  "Captain,  what 
do  you  think  we  ought  to  do  with  John  for  that  foolhardy  trip  to 
Purdy?"  The  Captain  replied,  "I  think  I  should  take  a  months  pay 
from  him."  And  that  was  the  upshot  and  the  end  of  it. 

J.  W.  AKERS. 


On  the  eighteenth  of  August  we  embarked  on  box  cars  with  camp 
and  garrison  equipage,  horses  and  artillery  loaded  inside  and  troops  on 
top,  headed  for  Memphis.  When  near  La  Grange,  our  train  was  stopped 
by  the  explosion  of  bombs  and  torpedoes  under  the  track;  placed  there 


104  HISTORY    OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

by  guerillas  The  regiment  hastily  unloaded,  a  skirmish  line  formed 
on  each  side  of  the  train,  and  an  examination  made  to  see  the  cause 
of  the  trouble.  Then  it  was  discovered  that  32  pound  percussion  shells 
had  been  buried  between  the  ties  under  the  rails,  in  which  had  been 
fixed  gun  tubes  with  percussion  caps  that  just  reached  up  to  the  un 
der  side  of  the  rails,  so  that  when  the  train  passed  over  it  settled  the 
track  enough  to  explode  the  caps,  which  ignited  the  loaded  bombs, 
exploding  them.  They  did  but  little  damage  but  cause  delay.  We  ex 
pected  to  be  attacked  during  the  delay  but  were  not.  We  debarked 
at  Moscow,  Tenn.,  and  camped,  where  we  did  some  scouting  and 
raiding  over  the  country,  trying  to  run  down  Forrest's  cavalry,  but 
never  got  a  shot  at  them.  On  the  17th  of  September  we  debarked 
again  on  cars  for  La  Grange,  where  we  remained  several  weeks  guard 
ing  the  railroad  and  doing  some  scouting  and  making  expeditions 
into  the  interior  on  wild  goose  chases  after  rebel  cavalry,  which  did 
no  good  only  to  keep  up  our  muscle. 

While  in  camp  at  La  Grange,  General  Sherman  came  through 
on  the  train,  with  an  escort  of  a  battalion  of  his  own  regiment,  the 
13th  regulars.  When  near  Moscow,  a  post  guarded  by  the  66th  Indiana 
of  our  brigade,  his  train  was  attacked  by  a  large  force  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry  and  driven  into  the  defences  at  Moscow,  where  tfrey  had  a 
spirited  skirmish  and  nearly  succeeded  in  capturing  him  and  his  lit 
tle  command  there.  Word  was  sent  to  us  for  assistance,  when  we  hast 
ily  went  twelve  miles  distant,  but  the  enemy  had  decamped  before  we 
got  there  without  accomplishing  their  object. 

During  our  service  at  La  Grange,  we  made  expeditions  into  the 
interior, "scouting  and  trying  to  run  down  and  capture  Forrest's  and 
Wheeler's  cavalry,  but  they  always  eluded  us.  While  absent  on  a 
forced  march  of  this  kind,  out  in  the  vicinity  of  Holly  Springs,  the 
regiment  held  an  election  for  state  officers,  as  the  Iowa  troops  were 
allowed  to  do.  The  writer  was  clerk  of  election  for  the  regiment.  We 
were  on  a  forced  march,  and  could  only  vote  as  we  marched,  or 
stopped  to  rest  beside  the  road.  A  ballot  box  was  improvised  out  of 
a  wooden  candle  box  with  a  slit  in  the  top,  and  carried  under  the  arm 
of  the  clerk  and  judges  by  turn,  and  votes  gathered  and  registered  on 
the  march  or  by  the  roadside.  I  have  forgotten  how  the  vote  stood, 
but  at  the  Presidental  election  in  1864,  where  the  issue  was  between 
Lincoln  and  McClellan,  our  regiment  only  gave  the  democratic  ticket 
three  votes,  giving  the  Republican  ticket  338.  The  vote  of  the  Second 
Iowa,  in  the  same  brigade,  was  71  for  McClellan  and  296  for  Lincoln. 
The  third  and  Eighteenth  regiments  did  not  cast  a  democratic  vote. 
The  40th  cast  194  democratic  votes,  and  the  6th  cavalry  cast  176,  near 
ly  half  of  their  entire  vote. 

On  the  fifth  of  November  we  struck  camp,  turned  over  our  tents 
and  surplus  baggage  to  the  post  quartermaster,  and  started  on  the 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  105 

march  overland  to  Pulaski,  Tenn.  The  troops  going  on  the  expedition 
consisting  of  the  2nd  and  4th  Divisions  of  the  16th  army  corps,compris- 
ing  the  left  wing  of  the  16th  army  corps,  under  command  of  Maj.-Gen. 
G.  M.  Dodge,  of  Iowa.  We  spent  a  hard  night  on  the  7th  inst,  crossing 
the  Tennessee  river  at  Eastport  and  starting  before  daylight  on  the 
march.  On  the  eighth  we  broke  camp  again  before  day  and  put  in  a 
hard  days  march  as  rear  guard,  the  rivers  and  creeks  being  swollen 
and  difficult  to  cross  and  did  not  get  into  camp  until  midnight.  On  the 
9th  we  marched  hard  all  day,  crossing  Shoal  river,  arriving  at  Pu 
laski,  Tenn.,  on  the  13th  of  Nov.,  1&63,  where  we  established  camp  near 
the  city.  General  Dodge's  headquarters  being  established  at  Athens. 
Colonel  James  B.  Weaver,  of  the  2nd  Iowa,  was  put  in  command  of 
the  post  at  Pulaski. 

During  the  time  we  were  at  Pulaski  most  of  the  regiments  re- 
enlisted  for  a  second  term.  We  staid  there  until  after  the  holidays,  and 
in  the  meantime  spent  our  time  in  expeditions  and  rafds  over  the 
country  and  guarding  supply  trains  back  and  forth  over  the  Granny 
White  Pike  from  our  base,  the  terminus  at  Columbia,  forty  miles 
away,  to  Chattanooga,  the  front.  In  our  raids  and  expeditions  we  cap 
tured  many  of  the  rebels  in  that  vicinity,  some  of  whom  were  home 
on  furlough  or  without  leave.  Among  those  captured  were  several  spies, 
some  of  whom  escaped,  others  tried  by  court  martial  and  punished; 
among  whom  was  one  Sam  Davis,  whom  we  hung.  Papers,  maps,  &c., 
were  found  on  his  person,  pegged  in  his  shoes  and  upholstered  in  his 
saddle  bags,  outlining  our  defences  at  Nashville  and  other  places,  to 
gether  with  number  and  disposition  of  our  troops,  which  made  the 
evidence  conclusive  as  to  his  guilt.  In  1896  a  monument  was  erected 
to  his  memory,  a  clipping  from  the  Confederate  Magazine  gives  an  in 
teresting  detailed  sketch  of  him  and  his  career. 


SAMUEL  DAVIS. 

I  see  some  of  the  papers  are  devoting  considerable  space  relat 
ing  to  heroic  deeds  done  on  both  sides  in  the  late  war.  But  here's  one 
by  a  twenty-year  old  boy  that  I  do  not  think  has  its  equal  in  the  an 
nals  of  any  war — at  least  I  have  never  been  able  to  find  anything  sim 
ilar  to  it.  There  are  thousands  of  examples  of  men  who  have  died 
fearlessly  in  battle,  under  the  excitement  of  the  contest,  and  numerous 
examples  of  soldiers  who  have  been  executed  rather  than  betray  their 
country  or  its  cause,  as  was  the  case  of  the  martyr,  Nathan  Hale,  in 
our  war  with  Great  Britain.  But  I  cannot  find  where  anyone  died 


106  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

rather  than  break  his  word  to  the  enemy,  as  did  Sam  Davis,  the  hero 
of  this  short  sketch. 

In  November,  18G3,  when  General  Bragg  was  at  Missionary  Ridge, 
he  wished  to  secure  correct  information  concerning  the  movements  of 
the  Federal  army  in  Middle  Tennessee,  and  to  find  out  if  it  was  moving 
from  Nashville  to  Corinth  to  re-inforce  Chattanooga.  The  duty  was  a 
most  hazardous  one  and  four  or  five  scouts  were  selected  for  the  pur 
pose;  but  before  going  were  told  that  the  chances  were  small  for  any, 
of  them  getting  back  alive.  The  men  selected  were  Joshua  Brown, 
now  a  physician  in  New  York  City,  W.  J.  Moore,  now  a  successful  far 
mer  and  horseman,  Columbia,  Tenn.,  and  Capt.  E.  Coleman,  command 
ing  Coleman's  scouts.  Each  went  a  different  route,  but  Coleman  alone 
got  through,  Brown,  Moore  and  Davis  being  captured,  the  latter  hanged 
and  Moore  escaping  from  the  guards  before  being  condemned  to  death. 
Of  these  Davis  had  obtained  the  most  important  information.  He  had 
counted  every  regiment  and  all  the  artillery  in  the  Sixteenth  Corps, 
found  out  they  were  moving  on  Chattanooga,  and  had  in  his  saddle 
seat  full  and  complete  maps  of  the  fortifications  at  Nashville  and 
other  points  and  an  exact  report  of  the  Federal  army  in  Tennessee. 
Mounted  on  a  superb  horse  he  was  recklessly  brave,  and  exposed  him 
self  unnecessarily  several  times.  He  remained  over  three  days  after 
he  left,  to  see  his  sweet-heart,  and  when  chased  from  near  her  home 
by  Federal  cavalry  the  night  before  he  was  captured,  he  ran  away 
from  them  in  the  dark.  Then  turning,  he  ran  back  on  them  again,  and, 
to  demonstrate  the  superiority  of  his  mount,  he  slapped  their  horses 
in  the  face  with  his  cap  as  he  ran  by.  He  was  captured  in  a  thicket 
while  resting  the  next  day,  by  the  Seventh  Kansas  Cavalry. 

Gen.  G.  M.  Dodge,  the  general  in  command  at  Pulaski,  near  which 
Davis  was  captured,  found  the  papers  in  the  saddle  seat  to  have  been 
taken  from  his  own  table,  and  correctly  surmised  that  some  one  very 
close  to  him  had  proved  traitorous.  A  court-martial  consisting  of  Col. 
Madison  Miller  18th  Missouri  infantry,  Col.  Thos.  W.  Gaines,  50th 
Missouri  infantry,  and  Major  Lathrop,  39th  Iowa  infantry,  condemned 
Davis  to  be  hanged,  but  Gen.  Dodge,  who  pitied  his  youth  and  admired 
his  manliness,  and  who  was  very  anxious  to  find  out  the  traitor  in  his 
own  camp,  offered  Davis  his  freedom  if  he  would  tell  the  name  of  the 
party  who  gave  him  the  papers.  This  Davis  with  great  firmness  and 
dignity,  refused  to  do.  Gen.  Dodge  says:  "I  took  him  in  my  private 
office  and  told  him  that  it  was  a  very  serious  charge  brought  against 
him;  that  he  was  a  spy,  and  from  what  I  found  upon  his  person,  he 
had  accurate  information  in  regard  to  my  army  and  I  must  know  how 
he  obtained  it.  I  told  him  that  he  was  a  young  man  and  did  not  seem 
to  realize  the  danger  he  was  in.  Up  to  that  time  he  said  nothing,  but 
then  he  replied. in  the  most  respectful  and  dignified  manner: 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  107 

"Gen.  Dodge,  I  know  the  danger  of  my  situation  and  I  am  willing 
to  take  the  consequences." 

"I  asked  him  then  to  give  me  the  name  of  the  person  who  gave 
him  the  information,  that  I  knew  it  must  be  some  one  near  head 
quarters,  or  who  had  the  confidence  of  the  officers  of  my  staff,  and  I 
repeated  that  I  must  know  the  source  from  which  it  came.  I  insisted 
that  he  should  tell  me,  but  he  firmly  declined  to  do  so.  I  told  him  I 
would  have  to  call  a  court  martial  and  have  him  tried  for  his  life,  and 
from  the  proofs  we  had  they  would  be  compelled  to  convict  him;  that 
there  was  no  chance  for  him  unless  he  gave  the  source  of  his  informa 
tion.  He  replied:  "I  know  I  will  have  to  die,  but  I  will  not  tell  where  I 
got  my  information  and  there  is  no  power  on  earth  can  make  me  tell. 
You  are  doing  your  duty  as  a  soldier,  and  I  am  doing  mine.  If  I  have 
to  die  I  do  so  feeling  I  am  doing  my  duty  to  God  and  my  country." 
I  pleaded  with  him  and  urged  him  with  all  the  power  I  possessed  to 
give  me  some  chance  to  save  his  life,  for  I  discovered  he  was  a  most 
admirable  young  fellow,  of  the  highest  character  and  strictest  integ 
rity.  He  then  said:  "It  is  useless  to  talk  to  me.  I  do  not  intend  to 
tell  it.  I  would  rather  die  than  break  my  word.  You  can  court  mar 
tial  me  or  do  anything  else  you  like,  but  I  will  not  betray  the  trust 
imposed  on  me."  He  thanked  me  for  the  interest  I  had  taken  in  him 
and  I  sent  him  back  to  prison.  I  immediately  called  a  court  martial 
to  try  him." 

The  day  before  he  was  executed  Davis  wrote  the  folowing  letter 
to  his  mother: 


Pulaski,  Giles  Co.,  Tenn.,  Nov.  26,  1863. 

Dear  Mother:  Oh,  how  painful  it  is  to  write  you!  I  have  got  to 
die  tomorrow  morning — to  be  hanged  by  the  Federals.  Mother,  do  not 
grieve  for  me.  I  must  bid  you  good-bye  forever.  Mother,  I  do  not  fear 
to  die.  Give  my  love  to  all.  Your  son, 

SAMUEL  DAVIS. 


Mother,  tell  the  children  all  to  be  good.  I  wish  I  could  see  you 
all  once  more,  but  I  never  will  any  more.  Mother  and  father,  do  not 
forget  me.  Think  of  me  when  I  am  dead,  but  do  not  grieve  for  me; 
it  will  do  no  good.  Father,  you  can  send  after  my  remains  if  you 
want  to  do  so.  They  will  be  at  Pulaski,  Tenn.  I  will  leave  some 
things,  too,  with  the  hotel-keeper,  for  you.  S.  D. 

Gen.  Dodge  became  more  anxious  to  save  him  and  sent  a  lady 
in  Pulaski,  an  old  friend  of  his  mother,  to  the  prisoner  to  beg  him  to 
give  the  information  and  save  his  life.  She  says  that  Davis  wept  and 
told  her  he  would  rather  die  than  break  his  word,  even  to  an  enemy. 


108  HISTORY   OP   THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

She  made  two  other  attempts  to  persuade  him,  but  without  avail. 

On  Friday,  November  27,  Davis  was  handcuffed,  placed  in  his 
coffin  and  driven  in  a  wagon  out  to  the  suburbs  of  Pulaski,  where  a 
rope  had  been  arranged  for  the  execution.  Gen.  Dodge,  who  was  a 
most  kind-hearted  gentleman,  hoped  he  would  weaken  at  the  last  mom 
ent,  and  tell  him  the  name  of  the  traitor  in  his  camp,  and  after  the 
rope  was  adjusted  he  begged  Davis  to  tell  him  the  name  of  the  person 
who  gave  him  the  papers  and  promised  then  to  liberate  him,  give  him 
his  horse,  his  side  arms  and  a  safe  escort  back  to  the  Confederate  lines. 
Davis  thanked  him  and  said:  "If  I  had  a  thousand  lives  I  would  lose 
them  all  before  I  would  betray  my  friends  or  the  confidence  of  my  in 
former."  He  then  gave  the  provost  marshal  some  keepsakes  for  his 
mother  and  turned  and  said:  "I  am  ready.  Do  your  duty,  men." 

No  wonder  the  people  of  the  south  are  erecting  a  monument  to 
Sam  Davis.  Nearly  two  thousand  d  ollars  has  been  subscribed,  some 
of  it  from  Gen.  Dodge,  his  staff  and  officers.  Capt.  H.  I.  Smith,  of 
Mason  City,  la.,  in  sending  his  contribution  recently,  wrote: 

"It  was  a  heart-rending,  sickening  sight  to  me,  and  every  heart 
went  out  to  him  in  sympathy  and  sorrow,  to  see  him  sacrificed  for  an 
act  ot  duty,  that  he  was  ordered  to  perform  as  a  soldier,  and  which  was 
not  a  crime.  The  stern  necessities  of  grim  war  seemed  to  demand 
that  an  example  should  be  made  of  some  one  and  fate  decreed  that  it 
should  be  Samuel  Davis.  I  don't  know  of  a  more  noble  specimen  of 
manhood  that  could  have  been  chosen  as  a  martyr  for  the  sacrifice.  I 
had  nothing  to  do  with  his  capture  or  trial,  being  then  only  a  non-com 
missioned  officer  of  one  of  the  regiments  in  Gen.  Sweeney's  division 
in  camp  at  Pulaski.  I  was  close  enough  to  see  his  features  and  coun 
tenance  when  he  was  executed.  He  was  young  and  seemed  to  be 
possessed  of  superior  intelligence  and  manliness,  and  when  it  was  un 
derstood  that  he  was  offered  life  and  liberty  if  he  would  divulge  the 
name  of  the  party  who  furnished  the  information  in  his  possession 
when  captured,  and  would  not  betray  the  sacred  trust,  none  of  us 
could  help  but  admire  his  trustworthiness  and  nobleness  of  character. 
It  was  a  fearful  test  to  be  put  to;  a  young  man  with  life  and  a  bright 
future  before  him,  but  he  proved  equal  to  it.  I  think  he  is  worthy  of 
a  monument  to  forever  perpetuate  his  memory,  as  a  noble  specimen 
of  valor  as  an  American  soldier.  I  saw  many  of  our  hardened  and 
bronze-visaged  veterans,  who  had  seen  much  of  carnage  and  suffering, 
draw  the  back  of  their  rough  hands  across  their  eyes  as  they  secretly 
wiped  away  tears.  I  think  it  was  Gen.  Sherman  who  said:  'War  is 
hell,'  and  so  it  seemed  to  me  on  that  occasion.  Everybody  was  deeply 
affected.  There  were  few  dry  eyes  among  those  who  were  the  sorrow 
ful  witnesses  and  when  the  drop  fell  there  was  such  a  pall  of  sadness 
and  silence  that  the  air  seemed  oppressive.  He  was  captured,  I  think, 


BRIG.  GEN.  G.  M.  DODGE. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  109 

by  Lieut.  E.  B.  Spalding,  of  the  Ffty-second  Illinois  infantry,  who 
now  resides  at  Sioux  City,  la.  I  have  heard  him  speak  in  sorrow  and 
praise  of  him  and  that  war  and  fate  should  decree  his  untimely  and 
ignominous  death.  I  served  four  years  in  the  war,  was  twice  wounded, 
and  lost  my  only  brother  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  believed  then  and 
do  now  that  our  cause  was  right.  I  have  no  animosity  against  my 
former  foes  and  want  to  see  all  sectional  bitterness  wiped  out.  I  want 
no  north,  no  south,  east  or  west,  but  one  common,  united  country,  in 
which  brotherly  love,  and  loyalty  to  a  common  flag  will  prevail,  and 
I  rejoice  in  the  fact  that  both  'Yank'  and  'Jonny'  share  equally  in  the 
benefit  of  our  victory." 

This  is  a  manly  letter  arid  Capt.  Smith  has  struck  the  right  chord 
— no  south,  no  north,  no  east,  no  west,  and  every  example  of  loyalty 
to  duty,  every  example  of  bravery,  courage,  devotion  and  glory,  wher 
ever  found  between  the  seas,  to  go,  as  this  one,  to  the  credit  of  the 
American  soldier.  Such  sentiments,  thank  God,  nave  almost  wiped 
out  the  animosities  of  the  war,  and  the  time  will  come  when  the  heroic 
deeds  of  both  sides  will  be  common  property  of  the  whole  American 
people. 

At  the  Columbia  opera  house  last  Thursday  evening  the  people 
of  the  city  assembled  to  honor  the  memory  of  Samuel  Davis.  The  build 
ing  was  crowded  and  a  substantial  sum  realized  for  the  monument.  The 
following  poem  was  written,  by  request,  for  the  occasion: 

"Tell  me  his  name  and  you  are  free," 
The  General  said,  while  from  the  tree 
The  grim  rope  dangled  threat'ningly. 

The  birds  ceased  singing — happy  birds, 
That  sang  of  home  and  mother-words. 
The  sunshine  kissed  his  cheek — dear  sun; 
It  loves  a  life  that's  just  begun! 
The  very  breezes  held  their  breath 
To  watch  the  fight  'twixt  life  and  death. 
And  O,  how  calm  and  sweet  and  free 
Smiled  back  tne  hills  of  Tennessee! 
bmiled  back  the  hills,  as  if  to  say, 
"O,  save  your  life  for  us  to-day!" 

"Tell  me  his  name  and  you  are  free," 
The  General  said,'  "and  I  shall  see 
You  are  safe  within  the  rebel  lines — 
I'd  love  to  save  such  life  as  thtne." 


110  HISTORY   OP   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

A  tear  gleamed  down  the  ranks  of  blue — 

(The  bayonets  were  tipped  with  dew) 

Across  the  rugged  cheek  of  war  . 

God's  angels  rolled  a  teary  star. 

The  boy  looked  up— 'twas  this  they  heard: 

"And  would  ^you  have  me  break  my  word?" 

A  tear  stood  in  the  General's  eye: 
"My  boy,  I  hate  to  see  thee  die — 
Give  me  the  traitor's  name  and  fly!" 

Young  Davis  smiled,  as  calm  and  free 

As  he  who  walked  on  Galilee: 

"Had  I  a  thousand  lives  to  live, 

Had  I  a  thousand  lives  to  give, 

I'd  lose  them — nay,  I'd  gladly  die 

Before  I'd  live  one  life,  a  lie!" 

He  turned — for  not  a  soldier  stirred — 

"Your  duty,  men — I  gave  my  word." 

The  hills  smiled  back  a  farewell  smile, 
The  breeze  sobbed  o'er  his  hair  awhile, 
The  birds  broke  out  in  glad  refrain, 
The  sunbeams  kissed  his  cheek  again — 
Then,  gathering  up  their  blazfng  bars, 
They  shook  his  name  among  the  stars. 

O,  stars,  that  now  his  brothers  are, 

O,  sun,  his  sire  in  truth,  and  ligM, 
Go,  tell  the  list'ning  worlds  afar 

Of  him  who  died  for  truth  ana  right! 
For  martyr  of  all  martyrs  he 
Who  dies  to  save  an  enemy! 

TROTWOOD. 

We  also  hung  a  member  of  the  9th  His.  who  brutally  murdered 
his  captain,  after'  due  trial  by  drum  head  court  martial. 

On  our  return  from  our  veteran  furlough  of  thirty  days,  we  moved 
o.ir  camp  to  Prospect,  Tenn.,  fifteen  miles  below  Pulaski,  on  the  "Elk 
river,  where  the  enginer  corps  built  a  stockade.  We  also  estab 
lished  a  nigger  corral  to  confine  the  negroes  in  who -infested  our  camps. 
Some  of  the  males  enlisted,  companies  were  organized,  to  be  left  in 
the  stockades  along  the  lines  of  communication,  and  guard  the  rear. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  111 

Daniel  McTaggert  and  O.  0.  Poppleton,  of  Co.  "B,n  organized  a  com 
pany,  the  former  being  made  captain,  and  the  latter  a  Lieut.  They 
were  sent  to  Huntsville,  Alabama,  to  guard  there  when  we  went  on 
the  Atlanta  campaign  and  when  Hood  made  his  raid  in  the  rear  of 
Sherman's  army,  when  he  started  for  the  sea,  McTaggart  and  his  com 
pany  were  captured,  as  most  of  the  others  were  on  Hood's  campaign 
to  Nashville,  which  resulted  so  disastrously  to  him  and  his  army. 

On  the  first  of  May  the  army  was  organized  for  the  historic  At 
lanta  campaign.  Colonel  Rice  was  given  command  of  the  1st  Brigade, 
in  the  2nd  Div.  (Sweeney's)  of  the  16th  Army  Corps,  in  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee,  composed  of  the  15th  corps  under  General  Logan,  16th 
under  General  Dodge,  and  17th  under  General  Blair.  The  Army  of  the 
Tenn.  being  under  command  of  Maj.  General  McPherson. 

During  our  visit  to  Iowa  on  our  furlough  we  filled  up  our  de 
pleted  ranks  with  young  recruits  who  were  anxious  to  join  the  regiment 
that  had  made  its  name  famous.  It  did  not  take  them  long  to  learn 
drill  and  duty,  sandwiched  as  they  were  among  the  old  veterans;  they 
were  soon  able  to  do  their  full  share  eo  that  it  was  not  long  before  the 
veteran  or  the  recruit  could  not  be  distinguished  one  from  the  other. 
The  following  article  is  contributed  by  one  who  enlisted  early  in  T864. 


"WE  ARE  COMING  FATHER  ABRAHAM  THREE  HUNDHED  THOU 
SAND  MORE." 

THE  YOUNG  RECRUITS  RESPONSE. 

A  little  before  daylight  on  April  12th,  1861,  a  flash  was  seen  about 
the  bay,  and  city  of  Charlston.  A  sudden  flash,  from  a  land  battery, 
followed  by  a  dull,  heavy  roar.  The  light  of  a  bomb,  describing  a 
semicircle  in  the  heavens,  was  seen  to  fall  upon  a  fort,  barely  outlined 
in  the  darkness. 

It  was  the  "first  shot"  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  Its  dull  rumb 
ling  roar  was  "heard  around  the  world."  It  was  the  signal  for  the 
commencement  of  the  greatest  event  in  American  history. 

Two  days  of  heroic  defense  of  the  flag  on  Sumter,  the  loyal  little 
band  surrendered. 

The  war  to  destroy  the  government  had  begun.  A  war  that  was 
to  cost  a  million  human  lives,  billions  of  treasures,  and  agony  im 
measurable,  -n  twenty-four  hours,  news  of  the  event  had  penetrated 
to  every  accessible  corner  of  the  American  Republic. 

In  the  south  it  was  lightly  hailed  as  the  harbinger  of  dissolution 
of  the  government  and  the  establishment  of  a  new  empire,  whose  foun 
dation  stone  should  be  "Human  Bondage."  In  the  north  it  was  receiv- 


112  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

ed  with  mingled  sadness  and  anger;  followed  by  a  quick  determination 
to  resent  the  outrage  and  save  the  government  of  the  people. 

A  call  by  the  President  for  volunters  to  defend  the  flag,  and  pre 
serve  the  union/  was  readily  filled,  and  thousands  of  other  loyal  men 
were  ready  to  enlist.  Soon  another  call  for  troops  was  issued,  and  as 
readily  the  call  was  filled,  and  others  in  like  manner. 

By  this  time  it  was  seen  that  the  Rebellion  was  a  formidable 
power,  and  the  cost  to  overthrow  it  would  be  terrible;  but  what 
ever  the  cost,  it  must  be  met  boldly.  Already  many  bloody  encounters 
with  the  enemy  had  been  fought.  Thousands  of  loyal  sons  had  given 
their  lives  for  the  union,  many  mothers  hearts  made  sad,  and  our 
armies  being  defeated  at  some  points,  and  beaten  back. 

Many  thousands  of  younger  sons,  whose  loyal  hearts  beat  with 
the  same  patriotic  blood  that  filled  the  hearts  of  their  brothers  who 
had  fallen,  were  anxiously  waiting  for  the  time  when  they  could  fill  their 
places  in  the  "ranks  of  the  old  regiments." 

The  "Old  7th"  whose  ranks  had  been  reduced  to  a  mere  "squad" 
received  quite  a  re-enforcement  of  "recruits"  on  their  return  from  vet 
eran  furlough  in  February,  1864.  No  braver  men  than  these  ever  en 
listed  on  fought  in  any  army.  They  knew  well  at  this  stage  of  the 
war  there  would  be  something  to  do  to  subdue  so  formidable  an  enemy 
behind  entrenchments  so  nearly  impregnable.  These  were  "trying 
days"  on  the  nerves  and  souls  of  men.  For  all  this  it  had  to  be  met 
and  these  young  "recruits,"  many  of  them  mere  lads,  with  hearts  true 
and  loyal  to  the  flag,  did  much  to  save  the  "young  republic"  from 
dissolution. 

Had  they  refused  to  respond  to  the  call  for  aid  the  enemy  would 
easily  have  won.  But  with  the  old  regiments  all  filled,  every  company 
mustering  100  men,  strong  and  brave,  meant  an  army  that  was  in 
vincible.  With  God  on  our  side,  and  prayers  of  their  loyal  mothers  and 
sisters  at  home,  they  moved  on  through  the  enemy's  land,  "Conquering 
unto  conquer." 

It  took  more  than  merely  the  stirring  up  by  patriotic  speeches, 
a.nd  the  beatins;  of  the  war  drum,  as  many  seemed  to  think,  to  get  these 
brave  boys  to  enlist.  They  knew  well  the  danger  and  hardships  they 
must  meet,  and  of  a  sullen,  cowardly  enemy  they  were  to  leave  in  the 
rear.  They  felt  however  that  their  first  duty  to  God  and  country  must 
be  obeyed;  thereby  save  that  for  which  their  brothers  and  fathers  life 
blood  had  been  shed,  that  it  be  not  shed  in  vain. 

The  anxious  pleading  with  father  and  mother  to  let  them  go  was 
often  refused;  but  when  they  arrived  at  the  age  of  18  years  they  felt 
they  must  go.  Many  at  an  earlier  age  than  this,  enlisted  and  fought 
valiantly  on  the  field  of  battle. 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  113 

At  Lays  Ferry,  Ga.,  the  first  opportunity  these  recruits  had  for 
trying  their  skill,  gave  evidence  of  their  bravery  and  their  worth  as 
soldiers.  Within  the  space  of  only  two  short  months  since  they  en 
listed,  they  were  now  face  to  face  with  the  enemy,  doing  effective  ser 
vice  for  the  cause.  Though  this  little  fight  lasted  but  15  minutes,  the 
7th  Iowa  lost  7  men  killed  and  45  wounded.  The  enemy  was  driven  from 
their  works,  thereby  letting  enough  x  of  our  troops  across  the  river  at 
this  place  to  turn  the  left  flank  of  Johnson's  army,  and  they  were  com- 
peljed  to  evacuate  their  stronghold  at  Resaca. 

So,  all  through  the  remainder  of  the  war  the  "raw  recruit"  played 
an  important  part.  In  all  the  bloody  battles  he  was  found  on  the  front 
line  and  none  fell  nearer  the  enemy's  works  than  he.  On  the  hard 
march,  if  any  stood  the  heat  and  fatigue  of  the  day  and  reached  camp, 
the  gun  of  the  recruit  was  in  the  "stack."  No  better  foragers  were  ever 
detailed  than  these  young  boys.  The  greatest  trouble  was  the  lack  of 
wagons  to  haul  in  what  they  confiscated. 

In  front  of  Atlanta,  To  the  Sea,  Through  the  Carolinas,  and  On  to 
Richmond,  none  -did  better  service  than  the  "recruits"  whose  loyal 
hearts  were  filled  with  patriotism  and  love  for  the  flag.  Always  at  their 
post,  ready  for  any  duty  assigned  them. 

The  real  effect  was  when  the  veterans  returned  from  their  homes, 
bringing  with  them  their  young  sons  and  brothers  to  fill  their  broken 
ranks,  the  enemy  began  to  inquire  along  the  picket  line  how  long  we 
could  keep  that  up.  The  reply  to  them  was,  as  long  as  you  want  it. 
The  north  is  full  of  such  boys  who  will  soon  be  old  enough. 

After  the  boys'  "skill  and  grit"  had  been  tested,  the  enemy  soon 
found  it  useless  to  attempt  to  stand  their  "withering  fire." 

We  broke  camp  May  1st,  and  started  on  the  march  overland  to 
Chattanopga  to  join  the  army  under  General  Sherman  to  take  part  in 
the  Atlanta  campaign.  The  weather  was  wet,  raining  most  of  the  time 
the  first  two  days  of  the  march;  we  had  to  wade  streams  which  kept 
us  wet  and  uncomfortable,  and  progress  was  slow  on  account  of  the 
condition  of  the  roads.  We  arrived  at  Huntsville,  Ala.,  Saturday  night 
and  spent  Sunday  the  3rd  camped  near  a  beautiful  spring  that  supplied 
the  city  with  water;  where  we  had  an  opportunity  to  dry  our  clothes 
and  doctor  our  sore  feet.  The  weather  had  cleared  up  and  the  country 
was  beautiful.  Some  cf  the  boys  spent  the  day  in  viewing  the  sights 
In  the  city;  we  passed  many  going  to  and  from  the  churches.  The 
citizens  did  not  appear  to  welcome  us  very  heartily;  they  usually  gave 
us  the  sidewalk  as  we  parsed  and  with  cold  looks  and  haughty  disdain 
did  not  speak  as  we  passed  by.  It  is  a  beautiful  city  among  the  hills 
and  mountains,  with  fertile  valleys  with  fine  farmsteads  ensconsed 
among  the  hills,  through  which  we  marched  the  next  day.  After  march- 


114  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

ing  about  fifty  miles  since  we  started  from  Prospect,  we  embarked 
on  the  cars,  passed  through  Stevenson,  crossing  the  Tennessee  river  at 
Bridgeport,  debarking  on  the  bank  of  the  river  at  the  foot  of  Lookout 
Mountain,  where  we  bivouaced  for  the  night.  The  only  water  we  had 
to  use  was  from  the  river  which  was  contaminated  from  dead  mules 
which  Genl.  Rosecrans  had  killed  and  thrown  into  the  river  to  save  his 
rations  when  besieged  by  Bragg  a  short  time  before.  It  was  necessary 
to  strain  the  water  before  using  to  get  out  the  maggots  and  skippers. 
The  next  day  we  marched  out  over  the  battlefield  of  Missionary  Ridge 
going  into  camp  on  the  Chickamauga  battlefield. 

In  order  to  better  understand  the  situation  at  this  time  and  com 
prehend  the  future  campaign  and  movements  of  Sherman's  army  in  the 
great  campaign  it  should  be  understood  that  General  Grant  had  just 
been  promoted  to  Lieutenant  General  and  given  the  entire  command  of 
the  combined  armies  of  the  United  States;  had  been  called  to  the  east 
to  operate  against  Lee  on  the  Rapidan  before  Richmond  and  had  turn 
ed  over  the  command  of  the  armies  of  the  west  to  General  Sherman, 
outlining  in  a  general  way  his  plan  of  operations.  Grant  and  Sherman 
met  at  Nashville  by  appointment  on  the  14th  of  March  and  talked  the 
matters  over  when  the  plans  were  gone  over  for  a  general  mode  of  pro- 
ceedure,  which  was  to  be  the  beginning  of  the  end. 


SKETCH  OF  OUR  GREAT  COMMANDER  GENERAL  SHERMAN. 

Most  of  our  great  commanders  on  both  sides  were  West  Pointers, 
Education  tells  everywhere,  but  nowhere  more  than  in  "War  Days." 
Bravery — mere  brute  courage — is  not  an  uncommon  quality  among  men; 
but  military  brains— a  natural  aptitude  for  arms  and  the  best  culture 
West  Point  can  give  him — that  is  what  an  army  commander  needs, 
and  Sherman  was  well  dowered  in  that  way.  He  was  a  native  of  Ohio. 
Like  all  (or  nearly  all)  who  rose  to  prominence  during  the  civil  war 
on  both  sides,  he  served  in  the  Mexican  War.  Afterward  he  resigned 
from  the  army,  and  failed  as  a  banker  in  San  Francisco  and  as  a  law 
yer  at  Leavenworth — evidently  having  few  gifts  that  way.  When  Sump- 
ter  was  fired  upon  (April,  1861)  he  was  principal  or  superintendent  of 
a  State  Military  Academy  down  in  Louisiana,  on  a  comfortable  salary, 
but  promptly  resigned,  with  the  frank  and  manly  declaration:  "On  no 
earthly  account  will  I  do  any  act  or  think  any  thought  hostile  to  or  in 
defiance  of  the  old  Government  of  the  United  States." 

Aided  by  his  brother,  Hon.  John  Sherman,  then  and  ever  since 
United  States  Senator  from  Ohio,  he  was  early  appointed  Colonel  of  the 
Thirteenth  United  States  Infantry  (he  had  been  previously  offered  the 
"chief  clerkship"  of  the  War  Department!),  and  served  with  credit  at 
our  first  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861,  commanding  a  brigade  there.  Soon 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  115 

afterward  he  was  appointed  Brigadier  General  of  Volunteers,  and  order 
ed  to  Kentucky,  Aug.  24,  1861,  and  here  took  such  large  views  of  the  re 
bellion,  and  of  the  force  required  to  subdue  it  in  the  West,  that  the  then' 
Secretary  of  War  (Cameron)  thought  him  "insane,"  and  relieved  him  of 
his  command.  His  estimate  was  that  we  needed  two  hundred  thousand 
men  to  conquer  and  hold  the  Southwest;  but  subsequently,  in  1864,  he 
himself  commanded  over  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  there. 

However,  events  soon  convinced  the  government  of  his  thorough 
sanity,  and  April  6,  1862,  found  him  at  Shiloh  or  Pittsburg  Landing,  un 
der  Grant,  in  command  of  our  advance  division  there.  Here  he  suffered 
severly,  but  fought  gallantly  and  skillfully,  and  did  much  to  retrieve 
our  hard  fortunes  there.  Next  he  campaigned  with  Grant  down  the 
Mississippi  and  around  Vicksburg  (1862-63),  and  though  not  always  suc 
cessful,  yet  he  won  and  deserved  the  full  trust  and  confidence  of  that 
incomparable  soldier.  When  after  the  disastrous  field  of  Chickamauga, 
Grant  was  summoned  to  Chattanooga— to  take  chief  command  there 
and  smash  Bragg,  if  possible — Sherman  was  at  Memphis,  but  on  orders 
from  Grant  gathered  up  all  his  Army  of  the  Tennessee  that  could  be 
spared  and  hastened  overland  to  Chattanooga  by  way  of  Bastport  and 
Huntsville.  He  took  the  railroad,  so  far  as  it  went,  absorbing  all  its 
cars  and  locomotives,  and  then  proceeded  by  forced  marches  eastward, 
at  times  mounting  part  of  his  men  on  horses  and  mules — did  everything 
to  speed  his  column  to  Chattanooga —  arriving  there  in  advance  of  the 
time  anticipated,  much  to  the  delight  of  General  Grant.  It  was  such 
loyalty  and  devotion  as  this,  without  an  atom  of  envy  or  jealousy, 
that  endeared  Sherman  to  the  heart  of  his  great  chief,  and  it  was  no 
wonder  that  henceforth  Grant  trusted  him  absolutely  and  affectionate 
ly.  He  well  knew  the  value  of  time,  and  never  wasted  it — an  item  of 
prime  importance  in  military  affiars. 

In  the  great  operations  that  soon  followed  at  Chattanooga  (Nov. 
25,  1863)  Sherman  commanded  the  left  wing,  and  crossing  the  Ten 
nessee  on  pontoon  bridges  in  the  night,  attacked  Bragg's  right  next 
day  with  vigor  and  fire.  He  attacked  gallantly  and  skillfully,  achiev 
ing  important  results  and  managed  his  part  of  affairs  at  Chattanooga 
with  signal  ability  and  credit.  Immediately, straight  from  the  battlefield, 
hot  from  the  pursuit  of  Bragg,  without  waiting  to  return  to  Chatta 
nooga  for  their  blankets  and  overcoats  even,  though  cold  and  inclem 
ent  weather  had  set  in — his  column  set  out  for  the  relief  of  Knoxville, 
and  by  forced  marches  reached  there  just  in  time  to  save  Burnside 
from  Longstreet. 

When  Grant  was  ordered  east  to  assume  command  of  all  our 
armies  (March  3,  1864),  doubtless  he  found  it  difficult  to  choose  his  suc 
cessor  in  the  west,  as  he  well  knew  the  great  merits  of  both  Sherman 
and  Thomas.  But  as  he  knew  Sherman  better — had  "summered  and 


116  HISTORY    OF   THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

wintered"  with  him  at  Vicksburg  and  elsewhere,  had  seen  his  very  heart 
and  soul,  indeed,  and  felt  he  could  trust  him  all  through,  whatever  hap 
pened — naturally  he  selected  Sherman.  It  is  certain  Thomas  did  not 
nke  this — was  much  aggrieved  thereby,  as  he  then  outranked  Sherman, 
and  commanded  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  a  larger  and  more  im 
portant  command  than  Sherman's  Army  of  the  Tennessee — but  he  loy 
ally  "obeyed  orders,"  nevertheless,  and  continued  on  in  the  service. 

Now  came  the  great  and  memorable  spring  of  1864,  with  Grant 
commanding  in  the  East  and  Sherman  in  the  West — both  resolved  on 
victory,  and  believing  they  could  achieve  it.  They  had  agreed  to  time 
their  operations  so  as  to  -give  the  Confederates  no  chance  to  reinforce 
anywhere.  Sherman  said  the  day  he  left  there  for  Chattanooga  (about 
April  28):  "I  am  going  to  move  on  Joe  Johnson  the  day  General 
Grant  telegraphs  me  he  is  going  to  hit  Bobby  Lee; and  if  you  don't  have 
my  army  supplied,  and  keep  it  supplied,  we'll  eat  your  mules  up,  sir — 
eat  your  mules  up."  Fortunately,  he  was  not  reduced  to  such  rations; 
but  it  well  shows  his  loyalty  and  spirit.  Such  was  General  Sherman 
at  the  beginning  of  the  Atlanta  campaign. 

Grant  proposed  to  move  against  Lee  on  May  the  5th,  it  was  ar 
ranged  that  Sherman  should  at  the  same  time  against  Johnston.  For 
this  work  Sherman  now  put  forward  his  preparations  with  all  possible 
zeal  and  thoroughness.  On  April  27th  he  ordered  all  his  troops  to  Chat 
tanooga,  and  the  next  day  placed  his  own  headquarters  there.  On  May 
6th  his  mighty  host  was  marshalled  for  the  advance.  Three  armies 
were  under  his  command.  The  Army  of  the  Tennessee  was  on  the  bank 
of  Chickamauga  creek,  near  Gordon's  mill.  It  comprised  the  Fifteenth 
and  parts  of  the  Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  under  Gens. 
Logan,  Dodge  and  Blair,  with  the  gallant  McPherson  in  general  com 
mand.  The  Army  of  the  Cumberland  was  at  Ringgold.  It  included  the 
4th,  14th  and  20th  Corps,  under  Howard,  Palmer  and  Hooker,  with 
Thomas  in  general  command.  The  Army  of  the  Ohio  was  near  Red 
Clay,  north  of  Dalton,  Georgia.  It  consisted  of  the  9th  and  23rd  Corps, 
and  was  commanded  by  General  Schofield.  The  strength  of  these  arm 
ies  was  as  follows:  Tennessee— Infantry  22,437,  Artillery  1,404,  Cav 
alry  624,  total  24,465;  guns  98.  Cumberland— Infantry  54,568,  Artillery 
2,377,  Cavalry  3,828,  total  60,773;  guns  130.  Ohio— Infantry  11,193,  Ar 
tillery  679,  Cavalry  1,679,  total  13,559;  guns  28.  Sherman  had  planned 
an  army  of  100,000  men  and  250  gun.  He  actually  had  98,797  men  and 
254  guns. 

The  opposing  Rebel  army  was  now  commanded  by  General  Joseph 
E.  Johnston,  who  had  succeeded  Bragg,  and  comprised  three  corps, 
under  Hardee,  Hood  and  Polk.  According  to  Johnston's  official  state 
ment,  its  total  strength  in  April,  1864,  was  51,992,  and  in  the  middle 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  117 

of  May,  when  the  battle  of  Resaca  was  fought,  71,235.  The  number  of 
guns  on  both  sides  was  about  equal. 

To  those  not  versed  in  the  science  of  war  it  might  seem  on  ac 
count  of  the  difference  in  numbers,  that  we  had  the  advantage,  but  it 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  they  were  acting  on  the  defensive,  behind 
fortifications,  on  ground  of  their  own  choosing  on  which  they  were 
familiar,  had  the  inside  of  the  circle,  and  that  they  reaped  the  advan 
tage  that  troops  enjoy  while  acting  in  a  country  where  the  people  are 
friendly.  We  had  to  have  the  country  guarded  back  to  our  base  of 
supplies,  which  necessitated  our  leaving  heavy  details  along  the  roads 
to  guard  our  communication  as  we  advanced;'  more  men  were  required 
the  farther  we  penetrated  the  enemy's  country. 

On  the  sixth  of  May,  we  are  ready  for  the  fray,  both  armies  being 
in  position.  On  the  seventh  we  march  slowly  and  cautiously,  as  we 
close  UK  to  the  enemy  in  force  at  Dalton,  Buzzards  Roost  and  Rocky 
Face;  while  McPherson  with  the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  was  ready  to 
force  his  way  through  Snake  Creek  Gap  on  the  right  flank,  while  Hooker 
was  keeping  the  enemy  busy  on  the  left. 

On  the  seventh  we  moved  forward  until  about  the  middle  of  the 
afternoon,  threw  out  pickets  and  videttes,  and  bivouaced  for  the  night, 
without  encountering  the  enemy.  The  8th  we  again  advanced  to  Snake 
Creek  Gap  and  camped;  the  cavalry  scouring  our  front.  On  the  9th  we 
,  attempted  to  advance,  found  the  enemy  in  force,  which  the  skirmishers 
engaged  vigorously;  heavy  cannonading  could  be  heard  on  the  left, 
from  which  we  awaited  news  before  pressing  them  too  forcibly.  We 
advanced  slowly  all  day  under  fire  until  late  at  night,  then  are  ordered 
to  the  rear  to  protect  the  train.  On  the  10th  there  was  a  terrific  rain  and 
thunder  storm  extending  well  into  the  night;  when  in  much  excitement 
we  are  called  into  line,  so  dark  that  it  causes  great  confusion  in  keep 
ing  track  of  the  moving  column.  We  finally  form  a  line  on  the  crest 
of  the  hills  and  hurriedly  throw  up  breastworks,  working  all  night  at 
it.  All  the  next  day  we  were  kept  in  line  strengthening  the  works  and 
expecting  attack.  The  12th  we  laid  still  all  day  under  arms. 


118  HISTORY    OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 


CHAPTER    VII. 
BATTLE  OF  RESACA. 

May  13th,  1864,  under  command  of  Major  General  G.  M.  Dodge, 
the  left  wing  of  the  16th  Corps,  two  divisions,  moved  out  at  early 
morning  at  8:00  o'clock  a.  m.,  marched  about  six  miles  and  formed 
on  the  hills  surrounding  Resaca,  took  position  on  tfie  right  of  the  15th 
A.  C.,  the  4th,  General  Veach's,  on  the  right  of  General  Osterhaus 
division.  Sweeney's  2nd  division  of  the  16th  corps  (ours)  forming  on 
the  right  of  General  Veach.  First  brigade  on  the  right  of  2nd  division; 
the  52nd  Illinois  being  on  the  right  of  the  brigade  and  the  right  of  the 
whole  army.  The  day  was  bright  and  pleasant,  the  lines  advancing 
in  columns  by  regiments,  with  battery  "H"  in  the  center  between  the 
lines.  The  men  moved  with  spirit  and  enthusiasm  writh  movements  well 
executed  and  with  the  colors  waving,  it  was  beautiful  to  behold.  At 
2:00  o'clock  the  battle  .opened — Smith's  Osterhaus'  and  Veach's  di 
visions  on  the  left  being  heavily  engaged;  our  lines  steadily  advanc 
ing,  with  the  enemy  giving  ground  and  falling  back  inside  their  in- 
trenchments,  until  darkness  put  an  end  to  the  conflict.  Most  of  .the 
fighting  in  our  front  was  done  by  our  battery  from  hill  to  hill,  so  that 
the  loss  to  our  regiment  was  very  slight. 

On  the  14th  our  brigade  is  withdrawn  with  the  rest  of  our  di 
vision,  to  lay  pontoons  and  effect  a  crossing  of  the  Oostanaula  river  four' 
miles  below;  the  left  wing  of  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  support  bat 
tery  "H"  First  Missouri,  which  was  advanced  to  the  bank  of  the  river 
in  an  open  field.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  was  General  Walk 
er's  rebel  division  with  a  battery  and  earth  works,  and  the  bank  of 
the  river  lined  with  sharpshooters.  Why  we  were  ordered  in  such  an 
exposed  position  on  the  bank  of  a  navigable  river  not  over  150  feet 
wide,  which  the  enemy  could  not  cross  without  boats,  when  the  battery 
could  have  done  just  as  efficient  service  without  us,  I  never  have  been 
able  to  understand.  We  simply  laid  flat  on  the  ground  close  to  the 
battery;  while  the  two  batteries  had  a  terrific  duel  until  our  artillery 
made  it  so  hot  for  them  that  they  abandoned  their  guns  and  took  shelter 
behind  a  brick  house  near  their  works.  There  was  a  rail  fence  just 
in  our  rear,  which  was  knocked  all  to  pieces  in  the  melee,  showing 
us  how  uncomfortably  close  the  cannon  balls  came  to  us,  but  we  hugged 
the  earth  and  held  our  ground. 

Every  old  soldier  knows  that  the  hardest  thing  in  connection  with 
a  battle  is  supporting  artillery  and  not  being  allowed  to  return  the 


A.    D.    CAMERON,    ADJUTANT    TTH   IOWA, 
Afterwards  Captain  of  Company  "  H." 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  119 

fire  or  the  waiting  under  fire  for  orders  to  move.  To  push  forward  in 
the  fight  is  exciting  work,  so  exciting  as  to  call  out  all  the  energies  of 
a  man,  and  to  keep  his  mind  full  of  thoughts  of  that  which  he  has  to 
do  for  the  moment.  He  has  no  time  to  think  of  danger,  or  to  specu 
late  upon  chances.  But  when  he  has  to  stand  or  lie,  in  line,  with  the 
bullets  whistling  about  him,  or  with  the  sound  of  the  battle  in  his  ears, 
and  with  nothing  to  do  in-  the  nature  of  action  or  of  effect,  he  is  sure 
to  be  thinking  of  danger,  and  fearing  the  results  of  delay,  and  to  be 
suffering  from  the  strain  upon  his  nerves,  which  is  all  the  intenser  be 
cause  there  is  nothing  for  his  muscles  to  do. 

A  part  of  the  regiment  was  detailed  to  assist  the  Pioneer  corps 
and  help  in  laying  the  pontoons.  They  were  canvas  pon 
toons,  put  together  in  the  timber  in  the  rear,  and  when 
all  ready  a  dozen  men  would  take  each  one  on  their  shoulders  and  run 
down  the  road,  throw  them  in  the  stream,  where  they  were  immediately 
filled  with  skirmishers  and  propelled  across  the  river,  under  fire  of  their 
sharpshooters,  when  they  would  scramble  under  cover  of  the  banks 
awaiting  sufficient  force  to  make  the  advance.  Many  were  wounded 
and  the  frail  canvas  boats  were  perforated  before  a  crossing  could  be 
effected.  A  cannon  ball  tore  through  the  men  that  were  carrying  one 
pontoon  down,  killing  3  and  wounding  4  of  Co.  "C,"  and  it  fell  on  top  of 
them.  During  the  fray,  a  private  in  our  brigade,  Ashel  M.  Pyburn,  of 
the  66th  Indiana,  discovering  their  battle  flag  floating  from  their  works, 
stripped,  swam  the  river  and  captured  it  under  fire  without  getting  a 
scratch.  After  triumphantly  returning  he  proudly  marched  the  length 
of  our  front  in  the  costume  of  the  statue  of  Apollo  Belvidere,  exhibiting 
it  to  the  command  amid  the  fire  of  the  rebel  skirmishers  on  the  oppo 
site  bank.  It  was  the  nerviest  thing  to  do  I  ever  witnessed,  but  did 
not  display  much  judgment.  We  succeeded  in  getting  a  few  men  of 
Yates  sharpshooters  across  but  they  could  not  accomplish  anything  and 
we  withdrew  them  after  dark,  during  which  time  a  detail  from  our  regi 
ment  of  about  a  hundred  men  secured  some  of  the  pontoons  which  had 
got  adrift  and  floated  down  the  stream  during  the  engagement.  About 
midnight  the  brigade  withdrew  about  four  miles  back  to  Snake  Creek 
Gap  in  order  to  get  a  chance  to  get  out  of  range  of  the  enemy  and  where 
there  was  water  and  opportunity  to  get  our  meals.  We  left  as  an  out 
post  and  command  of  observation,  two  companies  of  the  52nd  Illinois, 
under  command  of  Lieut.  E.  B.  Spalding,  who  held  the  position 
until  the  next  morning.  He  reported  that  he  could  hear  what  purported 
to  be  the  cries  of  the  wounded  across  the  river,  but  fearing  it  was  a 
ruse  to  lure  some  of  his  command  across  and  capture  them,  did  not 
respond. 


120  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 


BATTLE  OF  LAY'S  FERRY,  OR  CALHOUN. 

May  15th.  After  a  night's  rest  we  again  returned  to  effect  the 
crossing  at  Lay's  Ferry  (by  the  rebels  called  Calhoun).  This  time  we 
were  successful.  Battery  "H"  First  Mo.,  Capt.  Welker,  was  placed  in 
position  as  before  which  gave  the  woods  on  the  opposite  side  a  vigorous 
shelling,  the  pontoons  were  launched,  2  Cos.  of  the  66th  Ills,  sharpshoot 
ers  were  sent  over,  followed  by  the  2nd  Iowa  in  support,  then  the  52nd 
Ills.,  then  the  66th  Indiana,  when  the  7th  Iowa,  under  command  of  Maj. 
McMullen  (Col.  Parrott  being  sick)  crossed  over  and  took  position  in 
advance.  Companies  "B"  and  "F"  were  deployed  as  skirmishers,  under 
command  of  Captain  Mahon,  and  were  soon  engaged.  The  battle  was 
short  and  decisive;  it  did  not  last  over  fifteen  minutes;  the  7th  Iowa 
had  the  enemy  on  the  run  almost  before  the  support  could  come  up  to 
take  a  hand.  The  principal  loss  was  in  the  7th  Iowa  which  had  fifty- 
three  killed  and  wounded.  For  a  detailed  description  of  the  battle,  I 
add  the  following  written  by  Major  Mahon,  who  was  in  the  front  and 
thickest  of  the  fray  with  the  skirmishers  and  conspicuous  for  his  gal 
lantry,  to  which  I  can  personally  testify,  being  with,  him  with  company 
"B"  on  the  skirmish  line. 


HOW    THE     FIRST     BRIGADE     EFFECTED     THE     CROSSING    OF 

OOSTENAULA  RIVER,  WHICH  FORCED  JOHNSTON'S  ARMY 

IN  THE  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN  TO  EVACUATE  THE 

STRONG  POSITION  AT  RESACA. 

By  Major  Mahon. 

The  memorable  campaign  resulting  in  the  capture  of  Atlanta  was 
inaugurated  by  the  movement  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  through 
Snake  Creek  Gap,  some  thirty  miles  south  of  Chattanooga.  On  May 
9th,  the  leading  division,  which  was  the  2nd  division  of  the  16th  army 
corps,  debouched  into  Sugar  Valley  and  by  rapid  march  of  about  ten 
miles,  reached  the  vicinity  of  Resaca,  in  the  afternoon.  The  town, 
though  well  fortified,  was  practically  undefended  and  could  have  been 
easily  taken  on  the  spot.  Either  through  untimely  timidity,  or  mis 
understanding  of  orders,  a  retreat  was  ordered  when  the  prize  was  al 
most  within  our  grasp,  which  would  have  placed  this  portion  of  Sher 
man's  army  squarely  across  Johnston's  communications. 


CAPT.  SAMUEL  MAHON.  CO.  "  F." 

Afterwards  Major  and  Commander  of  Regiment. 


122  HISTORY    OF   THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

For  the  time  occupied  in  this  action,  it  was  one  of  the  severest 
for  the  regiments  of  the  whole  Atlanta  campaign,  as  the  regiment  lost 
53  men  inside  of  five  minutes,  being  15  per  cent  of  the  command.  The 
result  of  the  movement  was  of  great  importance,  as  its  success  vir 
tually  decided  the  fate  of  the  position  of  Resaca  and  compelled  the 
retreat  of  Johnston's  army.  The  regiment  however,  never  had  any 
voluble  correspondent  nor  chroniclers,  hence  the  event  was  passed 
as  a  mere  incident  of  the  campaign.  The  event  illustrated  to  the  nar 
rator  the  almost  invincible  force  of  a  determined  body  of  men  in 
close  quarters. 


General  Johnston  in  his  official  report  gave  as  a  reason  of  hia 
evacuation  of  Resaca  and  the  abandonment  of  his  heavy  fortifications 
there',  that  it  was  on  account  of  our  forced  crossing  of  the  Oostanaula 
river,  which  flanked  his  position  and  threatened  his  rear.  We  were 
opposed  at  the  crossing  by  Walkers  Confederatj  division,  composed 
mostly  of  Mississippians.  Our  regiment  captured  23  prisoners  in  the 
engagement. 

On  the  16th  we  advanced  our  line  two  miles  when  we  ran  into 
a  heavy  line  of  their  skirmishers  again,  which  we  engaged  briskly  and 
formed  a  line  of  battle,  placed  our  artillery  in  position,  opening  on 
them  at  short  range,  they  responded  with  a  battery,  but  stub 
bornly  gave  ground  on  the  approach  of  our  battle  line  until  they  came 
to  Rome  cross-roads,  where  we  bivouaced  for  the  night.  Our  loss 
in  this  affair  was  25  or  30  killed  and  wounded  mostly  among  Birge's 
sharpshooters  (66th  Ills.)  and  the  battery.  All  the  general  officers 
from  General  McPherson  down  were  close  observers  throughout  the 
day,  but  did  not  seem  to  deem  it  prudent  to  press  matters  more 
vigorously  I  suppose  on  account  of  the  fact  that  the  left  of  the  army 
was  not  sufficiently  advanced.  We  could  hear  Old  Joe  Hooker,  as 
he  is  familiarly  termed,  pounding  away  all  day  on  the  left,  evidently 
meeting  with  stubborn  resistance  on  that  part  of  the  line  there  also. 
We  had  left  our  knapsacks  in  rear  a  week  before,  in  order  to  be  in 
light  fighting  trim;  they  were  brought  up  in  the  evening  by  the  regi 
mental  teams.  On  the  17th  the  15th  Corps  took  the  advance,  which  gave 
us  respite  from  the  fighting  line,  we  bringing  up  the  rear  as  support. 
It  rained  frequently  during  the  day,  some  attributed  it  to  the  heavy 
connonading.  May  18th  we  moved  out,  getting  a  late  start  on  account 
of  the  roads  being  occupied  by  batteries  and  teams,  going  to  the  front. 
A  heavy  force  of  the  enemy  could  be  seen  across  the  railroad  retreating 
in  the  direction  of  Adairsville.  As  the  15th  Corps  had  the  advance 
and  right  of  way  we  had  to  wait  for  their  movements,  which  is  al- 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  123 

ways  tiresome  to  do.  We  marched  all  night,  passing  through  Adairs- 
ville  arriving  at  Kingston  the  next  clay.  The  railroad  was  repaired, 
the  trains  came  up  with  rations  and  Quartermasters  stores,  when 
rations  were  issued,  and  clothing  which  was  very  much  needed  was 
distributed.  Heavy  cannonading  was  heard  through  the  day,  de 
noting  that  General  Logan  with  the  15th  Corps  was  doing  business  at 
the  front  as  usual.  On  the  20th  we  remained  in  camp  all  day  bathing 
and  getting  a  much  needed  rest.  Some  of  the  boys  drained  a  mill 
pond,  from  which  they  got  a  nice  lot  of  fresh  fish.* The  sanitary  com 
mission  came  forward  with  some  sauer  kraut  and  potatoes  and  dis 
tributed  them  among  the  command,  which  had  the  effect  of  counter 
acting  our  scurvy  condition  brought  about  by  our  long  subsistance 
on  salt  meat  and  hard  bread.  The  22nd  we  remained  in  camp  all  day. 
On  the  23rd  broke  camp  in  the  afternoon,  hot  and  dusty  crossed  the 
Etowah  river,  passing  what  was  said  to  be  Alexander  H.  Stevens'  plan 
tation;  the  march  was  exceedingly  tiresome,  being  dusty  with  fre 
quent  delays;  did  not  arrive  in  camp  until  after  nine  o'clock  p.  m. 
On  the  24th  we  marched  in  rear  guarding  Battery  "H,"  we  having  to 
march  in  the  'brush  beside  the  road  in  order  to  give  the  road  to  the 
battery  and  ammunition  train.  Showery  through  the  day  and  heavy 
rain  at  night  before  we  go  in  to  bivouac.  We  had  a  hard  march  mak 
ing  slow  progress  through  mud  and  swollen  streams.  25th  we  broke 
camp  early  in  the  morning.  Made  slow  progress  on  account  of  the 
condition  of  the  roads;  artillery  and  wagon  trains  were  mired  in  the 
mud  and  the  men  were  required  to  help  extricate  them  and  build 
corduroy  roads  around  places  that  had  become  impassible;  had  to 
camp  on  low,  wet  ground  where  it  was  impossible  to  find  a  dry  place  to 
lay  down.  We  passed  over  Lime  Mountain  among  abandoned  gold 
mines,  which  seemingly  had  not  been  worked  for  many  years. 

On  the  26th  we  broke  camp  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  be 
fore  we  had  time  to  get  breakfast,  marched  until  noon  when  we 
were  given  time  to  eat;  we  had  no  sooner  sat  down  on  the  ground  to 
do  so  when  a  volley  of  bullets  was  shot  into  us  from  a  log  house  in 
an  open  field,  which  was  occupied  by  rebel  sharpshooters,  a  bullet 
passed  through  private  Delaps  tin  plate  he  was  eating  off  and  one  man 
in  company  "D"  was  wounded;  a  section  of  a  battery  was  run  up  to  the 
front  and  opened  up  on  the  Johnnies,  when  they  hurriedly  vacated 
the  premises  and  we  finished  our  meal  in  peace.  We  crossed  Pumpkin 
Vine  creek  and  formed  in  line  of  battle  in  front  of  Dallas,  three  hun 
dred  yards  in  rear  of  front  line  where  the  advance  threw  up  a  line  of 
works  for  defense.  On  the  27th  we  advance  our  line  in  face  of  heavy 
skirmishing  to  a  ridge  and  threw  up  a  line  of  defensive  works  through 
the  night.  28th,  heavy  skirmishing  all  day,  when  the  enemy  under 


124  HISTORY    OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

Clebourne  attempt  to  drive  back  our  line,  but  were  repulsed  and  se 
verely  punished;  our  loss  was  small  as  we  fought  behind  our  defenses. 
We  are  continually  required  to  lay  on  our  arms  and  ordered  not  to 
remove  our  accoutrements.  29th,  heavy  skirmishing  day  and  night, 
nothing  apparently  accomplished  on  either  side.  On  the  30th  the 
rebels  charged  us  again  in  the  night,  firing  terrific,  and  darkness  lit 
up  with  flash  of  firearms  in  the  attack  and  defense,  making  it  sub 
lime,  grand,  appalling  and  terrific.  The  2nd  Brigade  went  over  the 
works  and  attempted  to  drive  the  enemy  but  were  repulsed  and  had 
to  retire  behind  our  defenses.  We  are  compelled  to  leave  our  wound 
ed  until  dark  to  remove  them  from  the  front  where  they  fell  among 
the  enemy's  dead.  31st  there  was  an  attempt  to  withdraw  the  line  for 
the  purpose  of  moving  the  army  to  the  left,  but  the  enemy  watched 
us  so  closely  and  followed  us  so  that  it  had  to  be  abandoned.  We  are 
within  talking  distance  and  have  considerable  amusement  jollying 
them;  whenever  anything  displeasing  is  said,  the  retort  is  given  back 
with  a  volley  of  musketry,  which  sometimes  makes  a  cutting  and 
stinging  reply. 

June  1st,  1864.  There  was  heavy  firing  along  the  line  all  night, 
which  is  getting  to  be  a  common  occurrence;  about  8  o'clock  our  line 
was  withdrawn  to  the  left  -and  rear,  about  .three  miles  where  we  oc 
cupied  a  line  of  works  evidently  prepared  by  the  Pioneer  corps  for 
us.  The  right  of  the  army  was  undoubled  to  left  and  rear^  falling 
back  in  good  order  and  without  haste  by  brigades,  covered  by  a  heavy 
skirmish  line.  We  held  this  position  until  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee 
had  retired  through  our  lines  when  we  took  up  the  march  as  a  rear 
guard.  The  enemy's  cavalry  followed  closely  in  sight, which  had  the  effect 
of  keeping  stragglers  from  falling  behind.  Lieut.  Spalding,  of  the 
52nd  Ills.,  in  our  brigade,  in  his  dairy  relates  that:  "Our  brigade  line 
runs  by  quite  a  large  hewed  log  house.  Battery  "H"  was  located  so  as 
to  command  the  road  over  which  we  came;  no  sooner  was  the  troops 
in  position  than  the  people  living  in  the  house  were  moved  out  with  all 
their  goods,  as  carefully  as  time  permitted,  and  off  came  the  roof  and 
down  came  the  logs  and  inside  of  an  hour,  with  logs  and  earth,  a 
good  fort  covered  our  battery.  Felt  sorry  for  the  people  as  they  stood 
looking  at  the  transformation  of  their  home  into  breastworks,  but 
self  protection  has  first  claim  on  one.  *  *  *  The  enemy's  cavalry  followed 
us  in  our  movements,  taking  good  care  to  keep  within  safe  distance 
without  molesting  us.  At  the  picket  line,  some  of  the  boys  thought 
it  would  be  a  fine  thing  to  play  a  trick  on  the  enemy,  so  one  of  them 
went  back  on  the  road  a  ways  and  sat  down,  as  though  he  was  a 
straggler  resting,  while  the  rest  concealed  themselves — it  being  the 
arrangement  that  this  man  should  sit  there  until  the  enemy's  cavalry 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  125 

should  come  in  sight  and  then  to  run  and  have  them  chase  him  and 
by  that  means  get  them  close  to  our  concealed  line,  so  that  the  boys  at 
close  range  could  knock  them  off  their  horses.  The  man  sat  on  the 
log  and  saw  the  enemy  coming;  but  in  his  desire  to  draw  them  on 
in  good  shape,  he  waited  too  Ions,  and  when  he  started  to  run,  he 
came  with  all  his  might,  with  them  close  after  him,  but  they  were 
getting  so  close  upon  him  the  boys  were  compelled  to  open  fire  at  long 
range.  They  saved  him  and  did  not  have  the  fun  they  expected.  It 
came  near  being  a  serious  thing  for  the  fellow;  the  cavalry  pulled  up 
as  soon  as  they  discovered  what  was  ahead  of  them  and  the  man 
came  in  out  of  breath."  This  movement  was  another  ruse,  or  flank 
movement  to  the  left  to  gain  posession  of  the  railroad  and  Allatoona 
Pass  and  get  within  supporting  distance  of  Hooker  and  Thomas  who 
had  been  unsuccessful  in  the  attack  at  New  Hope  church.  Allatoona  was 
taken,  railroad  communication  was  established  and  Sherman's  real 
object  was  gained.  On  the  2nd  we  worked  at  building  breastworks  well 
into  the  night;  heavy  skirmishing  to  our  left  in  front  of  15th  Corps. 
It  rained  during  the  night.  3rd,  quiet  all  day  in  our  front,  could  see 
the  enemy's  cavalry  and  trains  maneuvering  on  the  hills  in  our  front 
and  Lost  Mountain  in  the  distance.  3rd,  held  our  position  all  day; 
no  fighting  in  our  immediate  front,  but  heavy  skirmishing  all  day  to 
our  left.  4th,  rained  in  forenoon  and  nasty  work  building  breast 
works;  heavy  skirmishing  still  going  on  to  our  left.  5th,  moved  out  about 
noon,  afer  drawing  three  days  rations;  weather  damp  and  sultry; 
marched  six  miles  to  left  of  army  and  went  into  camp;  our  rations 
have  been  very  short  for  past  two  weeks.  6th,  broke  camp  at  6:00 
o'clock  p.  m.  and  marched  until  midnight  being  delayed  by  wagon 
trains  and  artillery  occupying  roads.  7th,  rest  all  day  waiting  for 
trains  and  cavalry  to  pass.  8th  and  9th,  waiting  for  some  cause  unknown 
to  the  ordinary  soldier.  10th,  moved  out  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
halted  in  the  valley  of  Lookout  Mountain;  rained  very  hard,  heavy  fir 
ing  by  our  forces  in  our  front;  several  sallies  were  made  forcing  the 
enemy  back  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  General  Blair  with  two  di 
visions  of  the  17th  Corps  and  a  brigade  of  cavalry  joined  the  army; 
these  reinforcements  nearly  making  up  our  Tosses  made  since  the 
beginning  of  the  campaign.  10th,  marched  in  a  pouring  rain  six  miles 
and  bivouaced  near  station  of  Big  Shanty.  Flat  and  wet,  troops 
crowded  together  with  no  dry  place  to  lie  down.  Kenesaw  mountain  in 
front  with  a  range  of  wooded  hills  trending  off  to  northwest,  terminat 
ing  in  a  peak  called  Brush  Mountain.  To  the  right  was  a  smaller  hill 
called  Pine  Mountain,  and  beyond  it  in  the  distance,  Lost  Mountain. 
All  these,  though  links  in  a  continuous  chain,  present  a  sharp,  conical 
appearance,  prominent  in  the  vast  landscape  that  presents  itself  from 


126  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

any  of  the  foothills  that  abound  in  that  region.  Pine  Mountain  forms  the 
apex,  and  Kenesaw  and  Lost  Mountain  tne  base  of  the  triangle,  per 
fectly  covering  the  town  of  Marietta  and  the  railway  back  to  the 
Chattahoochee  river.  On  each  of  these  peaks  the  enemy  had  his  signal 
stations,  in  plain  view  of  the  naked  eye.  The  enemy's  line  was  fully  five 
miles  long.  The  Army  of  the  Tennessee  was  ordered  to  move  towards 
Marietta,  his  left  on  the  railroad.  General  Thomas  on  Kenesaw  and 
Pine  Mountain,  and  General  Scofield  off  towards  Lost  Mountain,  with 
General  McCook  loking  to  the  rear  and  communications;  our  lines 
were  now  close  up  and  dispositions  were  made  to  break  the  enemy's 
lines  between  Kenesaw  and  Pine  Mountains.  Our  signal  corps  got 
hold  of  the  cipher,  for  a  few  days,  of  the  enemy's  signals  and  read 
that  during  our  cannonade  o:  the  14th  Major  General  Leonidas  K. 
Polk,  of  the  Confederate  Army  was  killed,  and  Major  General  Lovell 
succeeded  to  the  command. 

The  enemy  have  heavy  fortifications  in  our  front  witn  heavy  bat 
teries  on  the  summit  of  the  hills  and  mountains  comanding  our  po 
sitions  awaiting  our  approach.  It  seems  as  though  the  16th  corps  was 
like  a  whip  cracker,  and  is  suddenly  snapped  from  one  flank  of  the 
army  to  the  other;  marching  in  the  rain  by  night  and  in  the  day  in 
the  heat,  and  with  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  performing  most  of 
the  remarkable  flanking  movements  of  the  campaign.  On  the  15th, 
the  brigade  broke  camp  and  moved  up  and  occupied  the  advance,  close 
up  to  the  enemy's  lines  and  base  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  we  occupied 
temporary  works  erected  by  the  troops  we  relieve,  and  are  close  up 
to  the  enemy  who  are  heavily  fortified  on  the  hills  and  mountains 
above  us.  Heavy  skirmishing  with  some  cannonading  most  of  the 
time;  the  right  wing  of  the  army  seems  to  be  making  some  progress, 
forcing  the  lines  of  the  enemy  back.  Our  wounded  men  on  the  skir 
mish  line  are  being  brought  back  frequently,  together  with  prisoners 
they  capture.  We  are  obliged  to  keep  low  in  the  wet  ditches  exposed 
to  the  burning  sun  by  day,  as  if  we  expose  ourselves,  it  causes  a  vol 
ley  from  the  enemy,  in  their  works  above  us  in  close  range.  The  foot 
hills  seem  to  be  alive  wita  Johnnies  who  keep  up  a  fussilade  of  shoot 
ing  to  intimidate  us.  The  enemy  charged  our  skirmishers,  but  they 
held  their  ground  knowing  that  their  supports  were  near.  Two  entire 
companies  with  their  officers  were  taken  prisoners  in  our  front  and 
brought  back  by  the  men  on  "ie  outposts.  They  belonged  to  the  31st 
and  40th  Alabama.  On  the  irth  we  were  ordered  to  hold  ourselves  in 
readiness  for  action  at  a  rronaents  notice,  special  examination  was 
made  of  our  cartridge  boxee  Jo  ece  that  they  were  supplied  with  am 
munition,  and  that  the  arms  v:ere  in  serviceable  condition.  17th,  we  laid 
still  all  day  under  arms  awr.lting  orders;  heavy  skirmishing  and  can- 


TRAILING  BATTERY  UP  FOOTHILLS  AT  KENESAW  MOUNTAIN. 


VFTERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  127 

nonading  going  on  all  the  time  obliging  us  to  keep  close  to  the  ditches 
and  ground  all  the  time;  men  have  no  opportunity  to  get  exercise  and 
keep  clean  and  get  restless;  some  are  overcome  with  the  heat  lying 
in  the  sun  and  are  taken  to  the  rear.  Much  useless  shooting  going 
on  all  the  time  as  the  timber  and  undergrowth  in  our  front  is  so 
dense.  While  we  were  pressing  the  left  center,  the  army  to  the  right 
turned  Johnston's  flank,  capturing  Lost  Mountain  and  all  the  hills 
except  Kenesaw.  For  weeks  thereafter  the  Union  army  vainly  sought 
to  dislodge  Johnston  from  the  heights  of  Kenesaw.  It  seemed  an 
impossible  task.  The  whole  mountain  was  a  fortress.  There  were 
miles  of  strong  entrenchments.  Nearly  all  the  time  the  rain  fell  in 
torrents,  the  low  lands  being  flooded.  The  roads  were  almost  impass 
ible.  Shermans  soldiers  worked  knee  deep  in  mud.  But  they  kept  on 
working. 

On  the  30th  of  June,  our  regiment  was  sent  to  the  skirmish  line; 
while  marching  up  a  straight  road  up  the  mountain,  the  rebel  sharp 
shooters  fired  at  iis  at  long  range.  One  shot  struck  B.  C.  Burdick  of 
Co.  "B"  in  the  breast,  went  through  him,  crashed  through  the  vertebra 
in  his  back  entering  his  knapsack,  puncturing  twenty-three  thicknesses 
of  his  folded  blanket.  He  was  marching  just  ahead  of  and  fell  a- 
gainst  me.  I  asked  him  if  he  was  hurt;  he  replied  "not  much",  and  im 
mediately  expired.  I  left  him  with  fifer  Thayer  and  went  on  with  the 
company.  We  marched  nearly  a  half  a  mile  up  the  mountain  before  we 
left  the  road  and  deployed;  so  the  shot  must  have  been  at  range  of  near 
ly  a  mile.  The  bullet  that  killed  him  was  about  as  large  as  the  little  fin 
ger  and  as  long;  it  was  sent  to  his  mother.  We  captured  some  prisoners 
after  that  with  those  weapons  and  they  said  they  were  a  British  arm 
and  cost  four  bales  of  cotton  each.  We  had  four  men  wounded  near 
there. 

The  army  was  not  content  with  besieging  Kenesaw,  but  kept  try 
ing  to  work  its  way  around  the  mountain.  Disquited  by  these  events, 
the  enemy  sought  to  check  them  on  the  22  by  a  sharp  attack  on  Hooker 
at  Kulps  farm,  which  was  repulsed  with  heavy  losses.  Five  days  later, 
the  27th  of  June,  Sherman  ordered  an  attack  to  be  made  just  south  of 
the  mountain,  by  Thomas,  and  a  supporting  movement  by  McPherson 
northward.  They  were  both  repulsed  with  heavy  losses,  and  Sherman 
decided  to  waste  no  more  lives  in  direct  attack,  but  to  turn  the  enemy's 
position,  as  he  had  done  several  times  before.  So  on  July  1st,  McPher 
son  marched  toward  Turners  Ferry,  there  to  cross  the  Chattahoochee. 
The  movement  was  effective.  Johnston  immediately  abandoned  Ken- 
esaw,and  retreated  5  miles.to  Smyrna  Camp  Ground.  Our  heaviest  losses 
were  not  in  the  assults  and  engagements  of  the  campaign,  but  in  the 
daily  skirmishing.  This  was  kept  up  continually  for  seventy  days, 


128  HISTORY    OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

during  which  time  the  two  armies  never  lost  their  grapple.  It  became 
customary,  in  taking  up  a  new  position,  to  entrench  the  skirmish  line 
until  it  was  only  less  strong  than  the  main  one.  These  lines  were  well 
manned,  and  the  roar  of  musketry  on  it  was  sometimes  scarcely  distin 
guishable  from  the  sound  of  a  general  engagement.  Confederate  Gen-* 
eral  Johnston  in  his  narrative  says,  "The  Federal  troops  approached 
Walker's  line  on  the  south  were  driven  back  by  a  fire  of  artillery  directed 
against  their  left  flank  by  General  French;  but  the  main  body,  un 
checked  by  Cockrell's  skirmishers,  pressed  forward  steadily  under  fire 
of  the  brigade,  until  within  twenty  or  thirty  paces  of  its  line.  Here 
it  was  checked  and  ultimately  repulsed,  by  the  steady  courage  of  the 
Missourians.  The  action  had  continued  over  an  hour,  with  spirit, 
during  most  of  which  time  fifty  field  pieces  were  playing  upon  our 
troops. 

But  the  most  determined  and  powerful  attack  fell  upon  Cheat- 
ham's  division  and  the  left  of  Cleburne's.  The  lines  of  the  two  armies 
were  much  nearer  to  each  other  there;  therefore  the  action  was  begun 
at  much  shorter  range.  The  Federal  troops  were  in  greater  force 
and  deeper  order,  too,  and  pressed  forward  with  a  resolution  always 
displayed  by  the  American  soldier  when  properly  led.  An  attempt  to 
turn  the  left  was  promptly  met  and  defeated  T)y  Cheatham's  reserve — 
Vaughn's  brigade.  After  maintaining  the  contest  for  three-quarters 
of  an  hour,  until  more  of  their  soldiers  lay  dead  and  wounded  than 
the  number  of  British  Veterans  that  fell  in  General  Jackson's  cele 
brated  battle  of  New  Orleans,  the  foremost  dead  lying  against  our 
breast  works,  they  retired  unsuccessful — because  they  had  encountered 
intrenched  infantry  unsurpassed  by  that  of  Napoleon's  Old  Guard,  or 
that  which  followed  Wellington  into  France,  out  of  Spain.  The  Con 
federate  loss  in  this  affair  was  reported  at  908.  They  estimated  our  loss 
7,500,  which  was  very  exaggerated,  as  our  losses  all  told  according  to 
General  Sherman's  official  report  was  only  7,530  from  June  1st  to 
July  3rd. 

On  the  29th  of  June  a  truce  was  agreed  upon  to  permit  the  burial 
of  the  dead  between  the  lines. 

Having  given  a  daily  detail  of  the  movements  of  Sherman's  army 
since  the  beginning  of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  since  the  first  of  May,  it 
will  be  interesting  reading  to  give  a  daily  diary  of  the  itinerency  and 
doings  of  the  army  opposing  us,  so  I  herewith  give  a  diary  from  the  offi 
cial  records  of  the  "War  of  the  Rebellion,"  being  a  journal  kept  at 
headquarters,  Confederate  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  by  Lieut.  T.  B. 
Mackall,  on  General  J.  E.  Johnston's  staff,  who  was  detailed  for  that 
purpose. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  129 

JOURNAL  OP  OPERATIONS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

Saturday,  May  14. — Several  attacks  made  on  our  line,  beginning 
on  our  left  and  extending  toward  the  right  as  far  as  Stevenson's  left; 
only  vigorous  in  front  of  Hindman.  Our  loss  during  the  day  gener 
ally  slight,  except  in  officers  and  artillery  horses.  At  6  p.  m.  Stewart 
and  Stevenson,  supported  by  Walker  (two  or  three  brigades),  swing 
round,  driving  the  enemy  easily.  Stevenson's  movement  particu 
larly  "prompt  and  vigorous;"  Stewart  not  engaged;  no  enemy  in 
his  front. 

P.  S. — About  4:20  p.m.  I  was  sent  to  General  Hardee  to  tell  him 
to  feel  if  any  enemy  was  in  his  front,  as  enemy  was  attacking  Hind 
man  vigorously,  so  that,  if  possible,  General  Hardee  might  aid  Gen 
eral  Hood.  Found  the  former  behind  Bate's  line,  where  fighting 
was  brisk.  Just  then  a  staff  officer  came  from  Cleburne  and  said 
that  though  not  at  that  time  engaged  he  could  see  two  lines  of  battle 
and  he  "could  hold  his  position."  General  Hardee  then  sent  word 
to  General  Mackall  that  so  far  from  being  able  to  aid  Hood  he  could 
not  "weaken  Cleburne  to  aid  Bate.  He  thought  two  of  Walker's 
brigades  had  better  be  brought  from  south  of  the  river;  one  to  be 
placed  on  right  of  Hood  and  one  on  the  left — on  Bate's  right,  where 
he  joined  Hood,  the  weakest  point.  If  Walker  could  not  be  brought 
up  Loring's  second  line  could  be  spared  very  well."  (Walker  had 
already  been  ordered  up,  two  brigades  being  in  reserve  in  woods 
on  south  bank;  Stevens'  (brigade)  guarding  crossing  on  the  Calhoun 
road.) 

On  returning  to  headquarters  General  Walker's  troops  were  just 
coming  up  the  road;  delivered  message.  General  Johnston  rode  off 
to  put  Mercer  in  position  behind  Stewart;  was  soon  followed  by 
General  Mackall.  After  remaining  behind  a  short  time  to  forward 
dispatches,  etc.,  join  the  general  on  high  hill  to  the  left  of  point 
where  Dalton  dirt  road  and  railroad  meet.  About  6  p.  m.,  Hood 
driving  enemy  rapidly.  I  am  sent  to  tell  him  that  Mr.  Wigfall  had 
just  taken  two  brigades  of  General  Walker's  division  in  behind 
Stewart;  that  a  third  brigade  of  Walker's  would  soon  be  up  (part 
of  Loring's  division;  Featherstone's  brigade  also  brought  up).  I  was 
directed  to  say  also  that  preparations  must  be  made  to  continue  the 
movement  (swinging  around  our  right)  at  daylight  next  morning. 
"Let  the  troops  understand  it."  Rode  up  Dalton  and  Resaca  dift 
road  in  search  of  General  Hood;  inquired  but  could  learn  nothing 
of  him;  turned  back  to  near  hill  where  I  started  from  and  went 
up  the  railroad.  There,  in  a  cut  where  Stewart's  line  was  in  the 
morning,  were  generals  Johnston,  Hood,  Walker,  and  Mackall.  I 


130  HISTORY    OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

reported  to  latter  that  I  had  taken  wrong  road,  etc.  Presently  two 
prisoners  were  brought  in  and  questioned  by  the  generals;  not  com 
municative.  A  third  brought  up  said  their  line  of  battle  ran  north 
east  and  southwest;  he  belonged  to  Whitaker's  brigade,  Stanley's 
division,  Fourth  Army  Corps.  They  expected  to  be  victorious,  had 
massed  their  forces  near  our  bridge.  About  dark  Wheeler  came  up 
to  the  cut,  and  after  consulting  brought  up  his  cavalry  which  went 
out  the  railroad.  All  then  rode  in  to  the  little  house  behind  Selden's 
battery  where  headquarters  are  at  night. 

•  The  enemy  did  not  offer  much  resistance  to  Hood's  right;  batteries 
limbered  up  and  iell  back  at  the  approach  of  our  skirmish  line.  All 
in  good  spirits  at  gaining  ground  and  the  railroad,  and  at  the  prospect 
.of  renewing  the  attack  at  daylight  and  cutting  the  enemy  off  from 
•Snake  Creek  Gap.  On  the  way  to  headquarters  for  the  night  it  was 
found  that  a  severe  engagement  had  taken  place  on  Folk's  line.  As 
we  attacked  on  the  right,  Sherman,  supposing  our  left  weakened, 
promptly  assaulted  our  lines  and  the  battle  raged  hotly  according  to 
all  accounts  for  an  hour  and  a  half.  The  firing,  strange  to  say,  was 
not  heard  where  we  were.  Major  Clare  says  he  reported  that  the 
enemy  had  effected  a  lodgment  on  the  hill  opposite  to  the  house  where 
headquarters  were  established  the  night  of  General  Johnston's  ar 
rival  from  Dalton. 

When  we  reached  the  house  heavy  firing  of  musketry  was  going 
on.  Accounts  confused.  Some  said  hill  was  to  be  retaken;  two 
regiments  were  ordered  to  retake  it  by  one  of  the  generals  on  the  line. 
Hardee  at  headquarters  on  General  Johnston's  arrival;  General 
Hood  had  accompanied  the  general.  About  same  time  news  received 
from  General  Martin  that  enemy  had  crossed  Oostenaula  (two  divis 
ions).  Featherstone,  of  Loring's  command,  who  had  been  sent  to 
report  to  Hood,  was  ordered  to  move  promptly  and  occupy  trenches 
south  of  Sheldon's  battery.  Walker  and  staff  sent  for.  Only  six  of 
our  guns  of  thirty  on  Folk's  front  are  said  to  have  opened  to  keep 
back  the  enemy.  Officers  of  one  staff  in  Folk's  corps  said  the  enemy 
holds  the  hill  gained  in  evening;  others  said  it  had  been  retaken; 
others  that  it  was  to  be.  Impossible  to  learn  the  truth. 

N.  B. — In  the  afternoon,  when  General  Johnston  ordered  me  to 
tell  General  Hood  to  make  preparations  to  "continue  the  movement" 
the  next  day  at  daylight,  following  up  the  success,  he  directed  me 
to  impress  upon  General  Hood  his  wish  that  in  executing  the  plan 
he  should  keep  his  face  toward  the  mouth  of  Snake  Creek  Gap,  the 
mouth  of  the  gap  the  object  to  be  reached. 

T.  B.  MACKALL, 

Aide-de-Camp. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  131 

RESACA. 

May  15,  1864. — Sheldon's  battery,  5:30  a.  m.,  sharp  skirmishing  on 
our  left.  Enemy  appears  to  be  preparing  for  a  general  attack  in  the 
fog.  Last  night  General  Walker  crosses  to  south  of  Oostenaula. 
(>:45  a.  m.,  very  sharp  skirmishing  and  an  occassional  cannon  on 
Hardee's  line  during  last  hour.  Our  skirmishers  last  night  occupied 
original  position  on  extreme  left;  enemy  not  holding  the  hill  com 
manding  railroad  and  wagon  bridge  (see  Uslow). 

(Two  divisions  of  enemy  reported  on  south  side  of  river;  wagon 
train  has  been  started;  pontoon  bridge  laid  yesterday  above  exposed 
bridges;  no  chance  of  Cockrell,  advance  of  French,  getting  up  to 
Rome  to-day.) 

7  a.  m.,  General  Johnston  has  been  on  the  hill  where  Selden's  bat 
tery  is  posted  since  firing  began;  is  just  going  to  ride  to  the  right, 
leaving  General  Mackall  here.  Skirmishing  and  artillery  still  going 
(on).  10  a.  m.,  General  Johnston  returned  to  Sheldon's  battery  an 
hour  ago.  Answer  sent  to  cipher  of  the  President  received  yesterday: 

Sherman  cannot  re-enforce  Grant  without  my  (General  J.'s)  know 
ledge,  and  will  not  as  skirmishing  along  our  entire  line.  We  (are)  in 
presence  of  whole  force  of  enemy  assembled  from  North  Alabama 
and  Tennessee. 

Ferguson's  brigade  of  cavalry,  also  Brigadier-General  Jackson 
have  reached  Rome.  Wheeler  has  just  gone  to  upper  pontoon  bridge, 
which  will  not  be  ready  for  crossing  for  fifteen  minutes.  It  is  in  long 
range  of  the  6-gun  battery  put  up  last  night  on  the  hill  which  they 
captured.  11  a.  m.,  very  heavy  musketry  and  artillery  firing  going 
on,  apparently  on  Hindman's  line.  Just  before  it  became  so  rapid 
General  Johnston  rode  up  the  Dalton  road,  apparently  on  account  of 
some  news  brought  by  Hampton  from  Hardee.  12  m.,  about  11:15 
battery  en  our  extreme  right  opened.  Firing  slackened  on  Hind 
man's  front.  Battery  on  hill  on  our  left  enfilades  our  trenches; 
riflemen  annoying  to  our  gunners.  12  m.,  General  Johnston  has 
come  back  to  Sheldon's  battery.  The  firing  on  extreme  right  three- 
quarters  of  an  hour  ago  caused  by  enemy's  cavalry  crossing  Conne- 
sauga  in  rear  of  Hood,  capturing  Hood's  hospital.  A  brigade  of 
our  cavalry  after  them,  supported  by  a  brigade  of  Stewart's.  Cap 
tain  Porter,  who  went  with  General  Johnston,  came  back.  Says 
last  reports  represent  our  troops  driving  enemy's  cavalry.  1:30  p. 
m.,  heavy  musketry  and  artillery  on  Hindman's  front;  began  about 
fifteen  minutes  ago.  Lieutenant  Wigfall  has  just  come  up  to  say 
enemy  are  making  a  very  determined  attack  on  Hindman.  General 
Johnston  preparing  to  mount  to  ride  to  Hood's.  Firing  continuous. 


132  HISTORY   0V   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

3:30  p.  m.,  few  minutes  after  writing  above  rode  off  to  General 
Hood's  with  General  Mackall,  who  accompanied  General  Johnston. 
Found  Hood  where  Dalton  dirt  road  and  railroad  are  near  each 
other  and  where  we  now  are.  Hindman,  a  few  minutes  after  we 
arrived,  repulsed  the  enemy,  who  came  up  in  some  places  to  his 
breast-works.  Our  reserves  not  used.  Orders  given  for  Stewart  to 
take  enemy  in  flank;  for  wagons  which  were  sent  back  to  be  brought 
up  to  Resaca.  Stevenson  and  Hindman  to  take  up  movement  of 
Stewart.  Featherstone  brought  from  Folk's  line,  also  Maney  and 
from  Cheatham.  These  supports  came  up  in  very  short 
time.  Stevenson,  however,  sent  word  that  enemy  in  three  lines 
were  preparing  to  attack  Stewart's  center.  3:40  p.  m.,  (in  rear  of 
Stewart's  line  near  railroad),  Stewart  directed  to  receive  attack 
and  pursue.  But  slight  skirmishing  now;  enemy  not  making  attack. 
9:30  p.  m.,  at  house  behind  Sheldon's  battery  (headquarters  at  night). 
Orders  given  to  withdraw  from  this  place;  arrangements  made 
and  trains  moving.  This  afternoon,  about  4:30  p.  m.,  Stewart,  in 
obedience  to  orders  to  attack  if  his  position  was  not  assaulted,  ad 
vanced;  soon  his  line  was  broken  by  a  terrible  fire  of  Hooker's 
corps,  who  were  ready  to  attack.  I  had  been  sent  to  accompany 
Major  Ratchford  to  General  Featherstone  (held  in  reserve),  to  order 
him  in  the  general's  name  to  take  position  in  support  of  Stewart, 
near  Green's  house. 

Monday,  MaylG. — On  Calhoun  and  Adairsville  road,  two  miles 
south  of  Calhoun.  While  in  field  in  rear  of  Stewart's  line  and  near 
railroad  last  night,  about  dark,  corps  and  division  commanders  as 
sembled,  and  instructions  given  to  effect  withdrawal  of  army  to  south 
bank  of  Oostenaula.  Enemy  had  crossed  force  to  south  bank  of 
river,  at  Dobbin's  Ferry;  reported  two  divisions.  Walker  was  facing 
them,  immediately  in  our  front.  He  was  intrenched,  his  line  extend 
ing  from  Oostenaula  River  to  Tilton,  on  Connesauga.  Stewart  had 
been  repulsed  in  attempting  to  flank  him.  What  was  to  prevent 
him  from  detaching  40,000  and  striking  our  communications,  hold 
ing  on  at  same  time  to  their  works  with  a  force  equal  to  ours?  We 
could  not  send  a  force  sufficient  to  beat  the  force  in  our  rear  and  at 
same  time  hold  present  position.  In  two  hours  after  Stewart's  re 
pulse  Cheatham,  Hindman,  Cleburne,  etc.,  were  assembled  around 
the  camp-fires.  Hardee  had  been  there  all  evening.  Routes  and 
times  fixed;  cars  to  be  sent  for  wounded;  wagons  and  ambulances 
and  most  of  artillery  to  cross  pontoons  above;  troops  and  artillery 
on  Folk's  line  on  railroad  and  small  trestle  bridge;  an  hour  occupied 
in  giving  orders,  etc.,  and  all  dispersed,  going  to  their  headquarters. 
We  rode  in;  wagons  not  brought  over,  After  writing  dispatcher 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  133 

to  dictation  of  General  Mackall  to  Polk,  Hood,  and  Hardee,  telling 
latter  to  notify  P.;  after  troops  and  skirmishers  driven  in,  lay  down 
(sleeping  on  porch  of  house  in  rear  of  Sheldon's  battery);  waked  by 
noise — firing,  confusion,  etc.;  saddle  and  mount.  General  Loring 
comes  up;  all  ride  to  roadside  at  foot  of  Sheldon's  battery,  passing 
through  Hindman's  column  going  to  railroad  bridge;  Cheatham's 
pass  from  his  line  over  small  trestle  bridge  below.  Night  cloudy. 
Firing  of  musketry  and  small-arms  on  Hood's  line,  which  was  rapid 
and  continuous  on  first  waking;  decreased.  These  troops  (Cheat- 
ham's  and  Hood's)  did  not  seem  at  all  alarmed,  rather  noisy  and  in 
very  good  humor.  Enemy's  line  on  river  remarkably  quiet.  Mat 
ters  had  been  alarming  on  Hood's  front.  Enemy  learning  probably 
through  (sic).  Near  Calhoun,  5:30  p.  m.,  order  given  to  send 
wagons  back  one  mile  and  a  half  south  of  Adairsville;  6:30  p.  m.,  our 
wagons  parking;  saddling. 

Tuesday,  May  17,  1864. — We  reached  Adairsville  just  before  day, 
a  little  ahead  of  troops.  Cultivated,  rolling  country  from  Resaca  to 
Adairsville.  ************ 

9:45  p.  m.,  this  morning  and  forenoon  guns  heard  at  intervals  at 
distance;  Wheeler  skirmishing;  2:30  p.  m.,  dispatch  received  from 
Wheeler  (2:10),  saying  enemy  pressing  rapidly  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  town,  and  he  would  have  to  fall  back.  General  had  ridden  out  to 
Hood's  line;  original  sent  to  him  and  copies  of  to  H.  and  H.  (Hood  and 
Hardee).  (Hardee)  did  not  receive  his  until  after  his  infantry  in 
formed  him.  At  this  time  cavalry  were  coming  in.  General  soon 
came  in.  By  5  p.  m.  Cheatham,  who  was  one  mile  in  advance,  was 
skirmishing.  Pack  up  and  saddle.  Troops  who  had  not  been  in  line, 
but  massed  in  bivouac,  quickly  formed,  while  firing  going  on.  Sent 
to  Hardee  to  ask  what  dispositions  he  had  made;  found  him  on  his 
left;  Cheatham  in  advance  of  all  infantry;  Walker  on  his  right, 
Cleburne  next,  part  crossing  Oothkaloga  Creek;  Bate  in  reserve. 
Returned  soon,  all  the  lieutenant-generals  and  Wheeler.  Enemy  re 
ported  on  west  of  Oothkaloga  Creek.  Bate  sent  over;  6,000  cavalry 
reported  six  miles  of  Cartersville.  Pontoons  at  Cassville.  Jackson's 
division  cavalry  ordered  back.  One  brigade  had  no  corn  for  three 
days.  (Pontoons  ordered  to  Etowah.)  Firing  heard  at  Rome,  while 
all  this  going  on.  Telegram  from  Lieutenant-Colonel  Steever, 
Rome,  saying  enemy  in  force,  shelling  town.  I  sent  after  General 
P.  about  6  p.  m.  All  in  council.  Can  the  army  be  withdrawn  when 
so  many  roads  into  Calhoun?  Carry  a  dispatch  in  room;  General 
W.  W.  (Mackall)  and  J —  -  looking  at  map.  Latter  traces  road 
from  here  to  Cassville;  asks  how  long  will  it  take  all  to  go  down 
one  road?  (Hood)  says  can't  be  done.  (Hardee)  said  we  will  have 


134  HISTORY    OF   THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

to  fight.  (Hood)  has  been  anxious  to  get  from  this  place  south  of 
Etowah.  9:10  p.  m.,  Roy  and  Cunningham  have  just  been  called 
for.  In  waiting.  On  16th  May  received  cipher  from  General  S. 
D.  Lee,  Demopolis;  not  transcribable.  Repetition  received  on  17th, 
at  night.  Forrest  will  start  on  20th  from  Corinth  to  cross  Tennessee 
at  Florence  with  3,500  picked  men  and  2  batteries.  Colonel  Hill 
reported  on  authority  of  scout  that  enemy  were  moving  down  toward 
Rome,  on  Calhoun  and  Rome  road,  Palmer's  corps  in  advance,  wagon 
trains  along,  and  one  brigade  cavalry.  Did  not  learn  whether  any 
other  force  was  behind. 


CASSVILLE. 

Wednesday,  May  18. — Reached  creek  near  Cassville  about  7:30 
a.  m.;  got  into  camp  9:30  a.  m.;  no  firing  so  far  (just  after  break 
fast).  Left  headquarters  just  beyond  Adairsville  and  Kingston  road,  H 
Hardee's  corps  moved  on  Adairsville  and  Kingston  road,  Hood's  and 
Folk's  on  Adairsville  and  Cassville.  Sear's  brigade,  French's 
division,  reached  Adairsville  yesterday.  French  with  Cockrell's 
this  a.  m.  at  Kingston;  cars  gone  for  Ector's.  French  had  one  bri 
gade  about  starting  from  Rome  to  join  this  army  when  town  was 
attacked.  Cockrell's  detained  to  aid  in  defense  and  protect  the  other 
brigade.  4  p.  m.,  cipher  from  S.  D.  Lee,  of  17th,  '  Meridian,  re 
ceived.  Forrest's  move  for  20th  suspended  on  account  of  demon 
strations  from  Memphis.  Colonel  Hannon  just  reports  enemy's 
cavalry  in  force  advancing  on  Fairmont  road  rapidly,  and  four 
miles  from  here.  Armstrong  ordered  to  support  of  Hannon. 

(Following  written  Thursday,  19th) :  Hood  and  Hardee  and  Polk 
at  headquarters  discussing  over  map  plans  for  morning.  Prisoner 
of  Hooker's  corps  brought  in;  I  questioned  him.  His  command  was 
behind  Howard's;  latter  skirmished  with  Cheatham  afternoon  of  17th 
and  all  army  was  assembled  close  by.  Next  morning  (on  IBth) 
whole  command  in  motion.  Howard  moved  to  Adairsville,  halted, 
and  cooked  dinner.  Prisoner  got  lost  among  Howard's  men  and  was 
told  Hooker  had  moved  toward  our  right,  and  endeavoring  to  join 
his  regiment  was  captured  by  our  cavalry;  was  told  that  an  addi 
tional  corps  was  following  behind  Hooker;  knew  nothing  of  other 
commands.  All  appear  in  good  spirits.  Telegram  received  in 
afternoon  from  Thrasher  reporting  enemy  acknowledge  loss  of 
45,000  and  31  generals  in  Virginia.  General  J  (ohnston)  said  Confed 
eracy  was  as  fixed  an  institution  as  England  or  France.  Troops  very 
much  worried  by  night  marches;  in  good  spirits  and  confident; 
press  confident.  Anxiety,  however,  to  fight,  particularly  among 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  135 

officers,  certain  of  whom  thought  good  effect  of  Virginia  and  Lou 
isiana  news  in  raising  gold  in  New  York  to  210  would  be  impaired 
by  this  retreat.  Many  thought  Sherman  would  not  fight — merely 
wanted  to  drive  us  across  Etowah  and  to  occupy  territory  acquired 
and  send  reinforcements  .o  Grant. 

Thursday,  May  19. — Moved  out  to  attack  enemy,  but  column  re 
ported  advancing  on  Cartersville  road;  line  changed;  brisk  skir 
mishing.  General  Ross  reports  enemy  throwing  pontoons  across 
Etowah  at  Wooley's  Bridge,  and  crossed  a  force — main  force. 

(Following  written  May  21  near  Alltoona) :  Line  changed  under 
fire.  Brisk  skirmishing  in  afternoon  and  toward  evening  to  effect 
the  change.  New  line  principally  along  a  ridge  running  nearly 
north  and  south,  covering  Cassville  and  Cass  Station  road  and  facing 
westwardly.  The  signal  corps  and  General  Hardee  reported  in 
forenoon  that  enemy  in  front  of  Cassville  were  moving  toward 
Kingston,  all  advantageous  to  the  designed  attack  on  his  left  flank. 
An  order  was  written  about  7  or  8  a.  m.  thanking  troops  for  patience, 
and  telling  them  they  would  be  led  against  enemy.  General  J  (ohns- 
ton)  rode  over  to  General  Hood's  and  then  passing  by  general  head 
quarters  rode  out  Spring  Place  road,  north  of  creek,  with  Hood  and 
Polk  and  Hardee  to  show  former  where  he  was  to  form  his  line  for 
attack.  General  M  (ackall)  rode  from  headquarters  east  of  town  to 
join  him;  found  Generals  J  (ohnston,  P  (oik),  and  Hardee  returning 
(Sears'  Mississippi  brigade  formed  across  road).  Riding  back,  all 
passed  Cockrell's  Missouri  brigade  resting  on  road,  and  in  town  met 
Hindman's  column,  advance  of  Hood's  corps,  moving  to  take  posi 
tion  on  Folk's  right.  After  a  few  moments  in  town  rode  rapidly 
back  out  Spring  Place  road;  General  saw  Hood  and  returned  to 
camp-ground  and  dismounted;  Hood's  corps  passing,  Folk's  troops 
shifting.  About  this  time,  10:20  a.  m.,  a  few  discharges  of  artillery 
on  Adairsville  and  Cassville  road,  and  in  ten  minutes  report  of  artil 
lery  in  easterly  direction.  General  M  (ackall),  who  had  ridden  out 
to  Hood  with  directions  "to  make  quick  work,"  sent  word  back  by 
courrier,  who  reported  to  me  that  "enemy  in  heavy  force  close 
to  Hood  on  Canton  road."  I  tell  general,  who  says  it  can't  be. 
(Armstrong  on  that  road  reported  none.)  Called  for  map;  said  if 
that's  so  General  Hood  will  have  to  fall  back  at  once.  Presently 
General  M  (ackall)  rode  up  at  a  rapid  rate,  spoke  with  General,  who 
sent  him  back  in  haste,  riding  one  of  his  horses.  Mason  went  off 
on  another;  still  firing  had  ceased;  confusion  in  passing  backward 
and  forward  of  Hood's  and  Folk's  troops.  At  this  time  could  be 
heard  officers  all  around  reading  orders  to  regiments  and  cheers  of 
troops.  Some  regiments  in  field  where  headquarters  were.  Polk 


136  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

detains  two  of  Hood's  brigades,  as  Hardee  on  his  left  had  not  closed 
up  a  gap.  Headquarters  wagons  sent  beyond  Cassville.  Corps  com 
manders  and  Wheeler  arrive. 

Instructions  to  change  line.  Generals  J(ohnston)  and  M(ackall 
and  Polk  ride  on  high  hill  overlooking  town  and  back  from  original 
line.  New  line  marked  out,  and  troops  rapidly  formed  on  it  and 
along  a  ridge.  Late  in  afternoon  considerable  skirmishing  and  ar 
tillery.  Enemy's  skirmishers  occupied  town.  At  one  time  confu 
sion;  wagons,  artillery,  and  cavalry  hasten  back;  noise,  dust,  and 
heat.  Disorder  checked;  wagons  made  to  halt.  Consternation  of 
citizens;  many  flee,  leaving  all;  some  take  away  few  effects,  some 
remain  between  hostile  fires. 

General  M(ackall)  and  I  remain  several  hours  on  roadside  (Cass 
ville  and  Cartersville  road).  Governor  Harris  brings  lunch.  Gen 
eral  J(ohnston),  about  5  p.  m.  in  afternoon,  rides  down  to  Hardee's, 
leaving  General  M(ackall);  I  remain.  About  6  p.  m.  General 
M(ackall)  sets  out  to  find  our  camp;  meets  the  General,  and  both  go 
back  to  a  field  near  road  in  rear  of  Polk,  as  skirmishing  brisk. 
General  J(ohnston)  tells  Governor  Harris  he  will  be  ready  for  and 
happy  to  receive  enemy  next  day.  Wheeler  comes  up;  cavalry  falls 
back  behind  infantry.  Dark  ride  to  camp.  By  a  muddy  brook  near 
General  P(olk's)  find  supper  ready  and  tents  pitched.  After  supper, 
General  J(ohnston)  walks  over  to  General  P(olk).  General  M(ac- 
kall)  and  rest  turn  in.  Soon  General  J(ohnston)  sends  word  by 
courier  to  send  him  two  of  inspector-general  mounted;  then  one  of 
Folk's  staff  officers  brings  word  that  all  the  staff  must  report  mounted; 
I  was  directed  to  remain. 

General  Mackall  returned  to  camping-place,  where  most  all  staff 
waited  until  about  2  a.  m.,  when  they  rode  to  Cartersville,  passing 
trains  and  artillery  parked  in  field;  all  hurried  off  without  regard 
to  order.  Reach  Cartersville  before  day,  troops  come  in  after  day. 
General  Johnston  comes  up — all  hurried  over  bridges;  great  con 
fusion,  caused  by  mixing  trains  and  by  trains  which  crossed  first 
parking  at  river's  edge  and  others  winding  around  wrong  roads; 
about  2,000  wagons  crowded  on  bank. 

Friday,  May  20  (written  May  22).— General  Mackall  and  staff 
reach  Cartersville  about  4  a.  m.,  General  J(ohnston)  later;  confusion, 
hurrying  wagons  and  artillery  across  Etowah  bridge.  Supply  train 
parked  on  plain  on  south  side;  two  pontoon  bridges,  one  wagon  trestle 
bridge,  one  railroad  bridge,  wagons  and  artillery  blocked  up  on  road; 
trains  mixed.  Dust  and  heat,  country  rough  and  hilly,  little  water 
near  railroad,  army  in  line  on  north  side.  Wagons  move  toward  Al- 
latoona  on  two  roads.  After  great  delay  trains  removed  out  of  range. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  137 

In  afternoon  headquarters  established  near  Moore's  house  (Hardee's 
headquarters),  near  a  crossing  of  railroad  and  lower  Allatoona  road, 
one  mile  and  a  half  from  Allatoona.  Etowah  Iron  Works — most 
valuable  machinery,  teams,  wagons,  and  negroes  removed  by  G.  W. 
Smith.  Bridges  burned  this  p.  m.,  including  railroad  bridge  by  mis 
take.  Troops  jaded,  artillery  and  cavalry  horses  particularly;  Geor 
gia  troops  dropped  off;  all  in  pretty  good  spirits  up  to  falling  back 
from  Cassville.  Change  of  line  not  understood  but  thought  all 
right,  but  night  retreat  after  issuing  general  order  impaired  confi 
dence;  great  alarm  in  country  around.  Troops  think  no  stand  to  be 
made  north  of  Chattahoochee,  where  supply  train  is  sent  Dispatch 
of  President  of  May  18  received;  he  had  read  dispatch  of  -  -  with 
disappointment.  Governor  Brown  has  ordered  all  militia  to  assem 
ble  at  Atlanta. 

Saturday,  May  21. — Headquarters  still  near  Moore's  house  on 
Etowah  and  Allatoona  road.  Every  measure  taken  to  prevent  strag 
gling  and  bring  back  absentees.  Went  to  Acworth  to  see  General 
D.  Saw  Colonel  Beard?-  inspector-general,  who  said  he  could  find  but 
few  stragglers;  many  broken-down  men  with  sick  tickets  going  to  rear. 
Marietta  reported  full  of  stragglers.  Over  -  -  thousand  barefoot 
men.  Some  dissatisfaction,  but  all  will  be  rectified  by  rest  of  few 
days.  Campaign  unusually  severe,  according  to  officers  who  have 
been  through  those  in  Virginia.  President's  dispatch  of  18th  an 
swered  and  misstatement  of  dates  in  General  J(ohnston's)  previous 
dispatch  corrected.  (Mistake  owing  to  my  giving  date  of  leaving 
Dalton  instead  of  Resaca,  which  I  understood  was  asked.)  About 
dusk  enemy's  cavalry  appear  near  Etowah;  our  cavalry  drive  them 
away.  In  night  Brigadier-General  Jackson  (Walker's  division)  re 
ports  considerable  skirmishing  near  railroad  crossing — enemy  occu 
pying  works  on  north  side. 

(Later) :  Armstrong,  commanding  Jackson's  cavalry,  all  west  of 
railroad.  Jackson  (disabled)  reports  enemy's  cavalry  crossed  at 
Gillem's  Bridge  (south  of  Kingston)  and  infantry  and  artillery  on 
north  side.  Colonel  Ewell  telegraphs  to  know  if  service  of  conscripts 
will  be  received;  thousands  can  be  had.  Newspapers  of  to-day  say 
nothing  of  retreat  south  of  Etowah.  Expect  battle  at  Cassville. 
Supply  trains  south  of  Chattahoochee  Kiver.  Other  wagon  trains 
moved  south  of  Allatoona  to  a  more  open  country.  Return  called  for. 

NEAR  MOORE'S  HOUSE. 

Sunday,  May  22,  1864. — Memorandum:  On  the  20th  asked  General 
M(ackall)  who  reported  force  of  enemy  on  Canton  road  on  19th 
when  we  were  at  Cassville.  He  said  General  Hood,  who  said  they 


S  HISTORY  OF  THE  SEVENTH  IOWA 

had  a  line  of  battle  close  to  him.  General  M(ackall)  could  see  noth 
ing  and  didn't  believe  it.)  9:30  a.  m.,  dispatch  this  morning,  written 
last  night  by  Allen,  of  cavalry,  gives  report  of  a  scout.  Enemy  for 
tifying  on  both  sides  of  river  at  Gillem's  bridge;  their  cavalry  had 
gone  out  several  miles  to  Stilesborough;  inquired  minutely  about 
roads;  said  that  to-day  an  army  of  150,000  (?)  strong  would  march  out 
on  Cedartown  road  to  Atlanta;  expected  but  little  opposition,  think 
ing  this  army  utterly  demoralized.  Enemy  on  short  rations.  (Memo 
randum:  Left  Cleveland  and  Ringgold  with  twenty  days'.)  This  re 
port  sent  back  to  Wheeler,  with  note  advising  him  not  to  carry  out 
his  expedition  without  being  fully  informed  of  position  of  enemy. 
Immediately  afterward  he  was  sent  for  to  come  to  headquarters, 
where  Hood  and  Hardee  are.  Copy  of  said  report  sent  to  Armstrong. 
Wheeler  not  yet  arrived.  Jackson's  division  cavalry  picketing  river 
below  as  far  as  Rome;  Wheeler's  above  as  far  as  Canton.  Wheeler 
is  to  cross  the  river.  Wheeler  started  in  afternoon  after  consider 
able  delay,  crossing  near  Etowah  bridge.  At  3:30  p.  m.  lieutenant- 
generals  and  chief  of  artillery  notified  to  ha^e  everything  in  readi 
ness  to  move  at  moment's  notice.  Major  Moore  notified  that  troops 
are  to  carry  three  days'  rations  in  haversacks.  Guides  obtained  for 
country  south  of  Etowah  and  west  of  railroad.  Two  bridges  being 
built  over  Pumpkin  Vine  Creek,  and  road  made,  cutting  off  consid 
erable  distance  in  moving  down  river.  Country  hilly  and  rocky. 
Heat  oppressive  and  road  dusty.  Many  disloyal  people  in  this  sec 
tion. 

Monday,  May  23,  1864. —  (After  sunset,  near  Moore's  house,  one 
mile  and  a  half  from  Allatoona.)  After  breakfast,  headquarters 
wagons  packed  and  horses  saddled,  ready  for  a  move;  awaiting  in 
formation  from  cavalry.  During  day,  Wheeler,  who  had  crossed 
with  escort  night  before,  and  was  followed  by  his  command  in  morn 
ing,  sent  back  several  dispatches  giving  reports  of  scouts  sent  to 
Cartersville,  Cassville,  Cass  Station,  etc.  Enemy's  infantry  (force- 
not  known)  at  Cartersville.  Hooker's  corps  and  headquarters  at 
Cassville.  (Following  written  24th:)  (Memorandum:  Learned 
about  failure  at  Cassville  from  -  — ;  mistake  about  name  of  road, 
"Canton.")  Wheeler  sent  word  in  evening  that  more  than  one 
division  at  Cartersville.  Hooker's  headquarters  and  corps  at  Cass 
ville.  Thomas  between  Cassville  and  Kingston.  Wheeler  ordered 
off  on  expedition  to  cut  communications.  Burning  of  Etowah  Iron 
Works  and  of  town  of  Cartersville  afternoon  of  22nd,  and  small  force 
then  observed  at  Cartersville  and  few  cavalry  east.  Had  produced 
impression  on  some  that  entire  force  of  enemy  either  moved  consid 
erably  to  our  left  or  were  falling  back.  Many  rumors  of  latter  kind. 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY 


139 


Wheeler,  after  crossing  Etowah,  said  citizens  said  enemy  reported 
they  were  falling  back.  One  report  that  they  were  going  to  Knox- 
ville.  Jackson's  cavalry,  under  Armstrong,  sent  unsatisfactory 
reports,  but  in  afternoon  and  night  reported  5,000  cavalry  crossed 
at  Milam's  Bridge,  apparently  to  cover  passage  of  infantry.  Heavy 
columns  of  dust  and  of  infantry  and  wagons  seen  moving  on  north 
bank  of  Etowah  toward  our  left,  and  Ferguson  thought  main  army 
on  north  bank.  Ferguson  reported  infantry  having  crossed.  Dur 
ing  day  Hardee  moved  ten  miles  southwest,  and  Polk  moved  on  road 
from  Allatoona  to  Dallas.  Hood  still  watching  crossings  near  rail 
road.  At  night  orders  reiterated  for  Hardee  to  move  to  Dallas  and 
Atlanta  road,  and  Polk  to  do  same  and  communicate.  General 
Hardee  made  mistake;  sent  word  back  (date  10  p.  m.;  received  11:50 
p.  m.)  that  unless  received  further  orders  would  cross  Chattahoochee 
at  Nelson's  ferry;  would  start  his  command  2  a.  m.  Major 
M(ason)  sent  to  correct  mistake,  and  note  sent  by  courier  telling 
him  he  was  to  take  position  near  intersection  of  road  on  which  he 
was,  with  Atlanta  and  Dallas  road,  and  protect  it,  supported  by 
General  P(olk).  Armstrong's  cavalry,  in  moving  farther  to  left, 
strangely  had  fallen  back  to  Burnt  Hickory,  leaving  enemy's  cavalry 
unobserved.  Armstrong  told  of  utmost  importance  to  have  strong 
force  at  position  held  by  Ross  and  observe  enemy  closely.  Imme 
diate  information  necessary.  Jackson's  commanders  think  main 
Yankee  army  west  of  our  position,  from  Milam's  Bridge  to  Rome. 
Telegram  from  General  B.  received.  Quarles  ordered  from  M(issis- 
sippi)  on  21st.  After  terrible  crisis,  sacrificing  communications,  all 
well  in  Virginia.  Expect  great  results  here,  from  tone  of  army  re 
ported.  S.  D.  L(ee)  ordered -part  of  Roddey  to  Talladega;  Chalmers' 
division  from  Tupelo  to  -  — .  Blair  passed  Paducah  on  lOtTi,  to 
join  Sherman;  thirty-seven  transports  and  gun-boats.  Headquarters 
wagons  unpacked.  3  p.  m.,  go  into  camp.  Wheeler  told  to  observe 
particularly  what  force  could  march  directly  from  Cartersville  on 
Allatoona. 

Tuesday,  May  24. — (Near  Moore's  house,  one  mile  and  a  half  to 
Allatoona.)  All  ready  to  move  to  Folk's  command. 

(May  25,  yesterday  all  rode  from  headquarters  near  Bartow  Fur 
nace  (near  Moore's)  to  Powder  Mill  and  Dallas  road,  and  camped  at 
night  on  the  road  four  miles  from  Dallas.  Hood  moved  his  troops 
by  afternoon  nearer  Dallas  from  Etowah  bridge,  and  headquarters 
where  Hardee's  had  been  night  before,  at  Doctor  Smith's.  Hardee 
at  night  camped  in  supporting  distance  of  Dallas.  Polk  camped  on 
Marietta  and  Dallas  road.  In  afternoon  lour  of  enemy's  cavalry 
run  into  lines  of  a  brigade  at  Dallas  and  carry  off  some  of  our  men; 


140  HISTORY    OP   THE   SEVENTH    lOWA 

not  a  gun  loaded.  Jackson's  opinion  that  main  army  of  enemy 
approaching  Dallas  and  one  corps  and  2,500  cavalry  going  by  Villa 
Rica.  This  information  sent  to  Hood,  who  is  told  to  move  early  in 
morning,  that  his  advance  may  reach  New  Hope  Church  (on  Alla- 
toona  and  Dallas  road),  about  four  miles  and  a  half  from  Robinson's, 
in  order  to  guard  against  separation.  Polk  is  to  move  up  on  Mari 
etta  and  Dallas  road  to  Robinson's.  Join  hands  to  be  ready  to  fight. 
Witherspoon,  of  Quarles'  staff,  reports  brigade  coming  2,800.) 

Wednesday,  May  25,  1864.— (5:30  p.  m.,  at  Robertson's  house,  four 
miles  south  of  Dallas,  near  intersection  of  road  from  Marietta, 
Atlanta,  ana  Aiiatoona  to  Dallas.)  Half  hour  ago  few  discharges 
of  artillery  near  New  Hope  Church,  where  Hood  is  three  miles  dis 
tant.  Prisoner  says  Hooker's  corps  is  in  front  of  him.  General 
J ^.ohnston)  rode  there  an  hour  ago.  We  have  been  waiting  here 
nearly  all  day.  Few  developments  of  enemy.  Reports  of  their 
having  crossed  Pumpkin  Vine  Creek;  citizens  think  moving  around 
our  left.  All  quiet  in  front  of  Dallas.  This  morning  all  of  Hardee's 
division  in  line.  Polk  got  in  wrong  place.  Wheeler  reports  cap 
tured  and  brought  off  from  near  Cassville  30  wagons  loaded,  and 
destroyed  170  and  took  150  prisoners.  Stewart's  division  repulsed 
Hooker's  corps. 

Saturday,  May  28,  1864.— (11  a.  m.,  Cleburne's  intrenched  line, 
where  enemy  were  repulsed  last  afternoon,  Rogers'  house.)  Few 
minutes  ago  started  with  General  M(ackall)  to  Wheeler's  to  see  Gen 
eral  Hood;  met  him  after  going  few  yards  and  returned.  Brisk 
cannonading  apparently  in  front  or  Loring,  and  slight  skirmishing 
along  line.  Blanton,  of  Hood's  staff,  came  from  the  right  about  9 
a.  m.,  after  our  arrival  here  (Cleburne's  headquarters),  with  a  mes 
sage  from  General  H(ood),  who  was  at  Wheeler's  headquarters. 
Captain  McFarland,  of  Cleburn's  staff,  who  came  with  him,  says 
Hood  found  enemy's  right  on  Aiiatoona  road  intrenched,  could  not 
attacK;  dissapointed  in  not  being  able  to  get  in  his  rear,  as  he  ex 
pected  last  night  and  this  morning.  Wrote  at  sunrise  his  corps  had 
not  crossed;  feared  he  would  have  some  difficulty  in  crossing  Little 
Pumpkin  Vine  Creek,  where  our  right  last  evening  rested;  when  he 
crossed  he  would  be  in  enemy's  rear.  At  11  a.  m.  fight  on  French's 
line;  11:30  generals  ride  away;  follow  in  fifteen  to  twenty  minutes; 
when  I  leave,  Cleburne  says  his  skirmishers  pressed  in.  However, 
no  attack  on  him.  All  rode  to  house  where  headquarters  are  estab 
lished  at  night.  While  on  Cleburne's  line  walk  over  field;  about 
700  dead  left  by  Howard.  Prisoners  from  Palmer  and  Scofield, 
who  were  supporting  but  not  engaged,  captured.  Enemy  advanced 
in  five  to  six  lines. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  141 

Monday,  May  30. —  (8  a.  m.,  Widow  Wigley's  deserted  house  on 
Dallas  and  Allatoona  road,  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  New  Hope 
Church.)  All  very  quiet  along  line  except  occasional  cannon  oppo 
site  French;  hardly  a  musket  fired.  Last  evening  early,  on  account 
of  reported  movement  of  enemy  toward  our  left,  extending  from 
Pumpkin  Vine  Creek,  from  which  point  forces  said  to  be  moving  to 
Dallas,  arrangements  made  to  move  to  Lost  Mountain,  six  miles 
east.  At  same  time  enemy's  pickets  on  their  left  were  contracted, 
and  reports  of  troops  moving  to  re-enforce  Dallas.  At  9  o'clock  at 
night  some  cannonading  on  French's  and  Cantey's  line;  10  p.  m., 
wagons  (at)  headquarters  packed  to  move;  some  tremendous  firing, 
artillery  and  musketry,  on  French's  line  kept  up  more  than  half  hour 
and  renewed  two  or  three  times  later.  About  11  p.  m.,  cannonading 
heavy  on  Bate's  line  for  two  hours,  fortunately  Cleburne  support 
ing;  various  conjectures  at  the  time  and  since  about  origin 
Cantey's  line  very  weak  and  sevent}r-five  yards  from  enemy's  in- 
trenchments;  second  line*  was  being  made  200  yards  in  rear.  Was 
enemy  attempting  to  prevent  working?  Making  genuine  attack? 
False  alarm?  Latter  general  impression,  confirmed  toward  morning 
by  officers  who  reported  no  enemy  seen  either  in  front  of  Cantey  or 
Bate.  Cantey  said  it  was  a  stampede  on  part  of  his  men.  There  we 
did  most 'of  firing.  On  left  it  was  principally  enemy's  artillery; 
great  waste  of  ammunition;  reminded  some  of  occurrences  at  York- 
town;  both  sides  aroused  by  false  alarm.  On  the  heavy  firing, 
movement  of  the  night  suspended;  all  unsaddle;  intrenching  tools 
sent  to  lines.  Toward  morning  scouts  reported  enemy  moving  to 
our  left.  For  several  days  he  has  been  approaching  railroad  gradu 
ally,  intrenching  at  every  point.  Yesterday  Hood  on  right,  Polk  in 
center,  holding  Hood's  former  position,  while  Hardee  on  left,  his  line 
extending  several  miles,  and  for  long  intervals  only  skirmishers, 
principally  on  the  Ellsberry  Hills.  Bate  in  front  of  Dallas,  sup 
ported  by  Cleburne,  moved  up  yesterday.  In  enemy's  line  a  similar 
gap  opposite  Cheatham;  enemy  a  mile  distant.  Stewart  on  Hood's 
extreme  right  across  Little  Pumpkin  Vine  Creek;  enemy  also  across 
creek.  Information  received  now  by  Hill's,  Granbury's,  and  Jack 
son's  and  Wheeler's  scouts  more  regular  and  reliable.  One  of  Long- 
street's  scouts  reports  heavy  baggage  sent  back  from  Chattanooga, 
and  all  forage  and  substance  sent  forward,  twenty  days',  of  which 
ten  had  been  exhausted.  Small  garrison  at  Chattanooga.  Other 
day  man  reported  small  garrisons  at  Tuflahoma  and  Huntsville; 
1.500  at  Bridgeport.  Many  rumors  of  Forrest  having  crossed  Ten 
nessee  River,  but  nothing  from  Mississippi  to  show  suspension  of 
order  revoked.  Forrest  would  be  of  more  service  between  Sherman 


142  HISTORY    OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

and  Chattanooga.  Mississippi  threatened  by  raid  from  Memphis, 
and  other  day  information  that  A.  J.  Smith  had  landed  troops  from 
Red  River  at  Vicksburg.  Southwest  drained  of  troops  to  strengthen 
this  army.  Fleet  and  transports  with  2,800  infantry  off  Mobile. 
No  infantry  except  enough  to  man  batteries.  Tennessee  over  the 
bar  and  down  the  bay;  admiral  hesitates  to  attack.  9:30  a.  m., 
Major  Preston  says  firing  on  right  originated  by  enemy's  heavy  line 
of  skirmishers  advancing  on  Cantey's  line  where  new  fortifications 
being  built.  Firing  there  only  few  minutes — taken  up  by  other 
troops;  now  new  line  on  ridge  farther  back.  Sharpshooters  trouble 
some;  artillery  lose  heavily  in  men  and  horses — 40  men  and  40 
horses  in  one  battalion;  ammunition  wasted;  only  forty  rounds  al 
lowed  to  each  man. 

Tuesday,  May  31,  1864. — (Three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  New  Hope 
Church  at  Widow  Wigley's;  headquarters  same  for  several  days.) 
Prisoner  of  Ffteenth  (Logan's  corps),  captured  night  before  last  in 
front  of  Bate,  and  brought  to  headquarters  yesterday  afternoon, 
says  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  Corps  near  Dallas,  on  enemy's  right; 
doesn't  think  any  corps  immediately  on  left;  said  Seventeenth  came 
up  two  days  before.  In  night,  without  drawing  in  pickets,  firing  was 
suddenly  commenced  by  his  people;  he  lay  down,  and  when  all  was 
quiet,  in  endeavoring  to  escape,  got  among  our  skirmishers — so  the 
enemy  raised  false  alarm  on  Bate's  line  as  Cantey  did.  Bate  reported 
enemy  made  several  attacks.  In  the  previous  affair  when  B(ate) 
advanced,  became  hotly  engaged,  effected  lodgment  temporarily  in 
enemy's  breast- works,  and  was  forced  to  retire  with  loss;  he  says 
ardor  of  men  could  not  be  restrained,  went  to"o  far  before  could  be 
recalled.  Lewis,  who  lost  most,  and  other  brigadiers  say  orders 
positive  to  take  works. 

Jackson's  scouts  report  enemy's  cavalry  between  Dallas  and 
Draketown  moved  back  during  attack  of  Sunday  night;  don't  know 
which  road  they  have  gone;  told  (by)  citizens,  horses  starving,  forced 
to  go  back.  (Prisoners  say  army  on  half  rations  for  several  days,  and 
various  confirmations  of  short  supplies;  stock  suffering.)  Captain 
Johnson,  of  a  Georgia  regiment,  under  Wheeler,  just  from  a  scout 
north  of  Etowah  River,  says  no  enemy  at  Etowah,  Cartersville,  or 
Cassville;  1,000  to  2,000  infantry  and  one  regiment  cavalry  at 
Cass  Station  and  Kingston;  5,000  infantry  at  Resaca;  citizens  and 
soldiers  say  two  supply  trains  cut  off.  Forrest  captured  Chatta 
nooga  (no  official  information  received  here  of  his  having  started). 
On  29th  S.  D.  Lee  telegraphed  that  Roddey  had  been  driven  back 
to  Jonesborough  by  10,000  infantry,  artillery,  and  cavalry  from  Deca- 
tur;  yesterday  said  they  had  returned,  probably  a  diversion  to  cover 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  143 

movement  of  troops  to  Kingston  (probably  those  landed  at  Clinton). 
War  Department  day  or  two  ago  gave  notice  that  nineteen  trans 
ports  with  troops  had  passed  Grand  Gulf  and  stopped  at  Vicks- 
burg,  supposed  to  be  Smith's  troops  from  Red  River  (on  way  to 
Sherman  doubtless).  Yesterday  afternoon  late,  brisk  skirmishing 
and  rapid  artillery  firing  on  Stewart's  line.  With  this  exception, 
day  and  night  remarkably  quiet.  Enemy's  sharpshooters  in  trees 
very  annoying.  Yesterday  colonel  and  captain  of  First  Missouri  killed 
in  trenches.  Some  supposed  150  guns  in  position  would  open.  Sick 
and  wounded  had  been  moved  back  and  many  thought  army  would 
change  position.  Troops  in  good  spirits.  Press  in  southwest  sup 
port  the  General.  A  victory  will  confirm  all.  In  one  or  two  weeks 
enemy  will  have  considerable  reinforcements.  Logan's  corps  go 
out  service  in  three  months.  Lincoln  calls  for  400,000  more. 

Gap  in  enemy's  line,  General  believes  force  (McPherson)  in 
front  of  Bate  is  there  only  to  cover  roads.  Hooker  in  center,  then 
Howard,  Palmer,  and  Scofield.  Wheeler's  scouts  learn  from  citi 
zens  that  from  questions  (of)  enemy's  engineers,  who  examine  coun 
try  and  roads  to  Allatoona,  a  movement  to  Allatoona  is  contem 
plated. 

Thursday,  June  2. — (Sunset.)  Headquarters  moved  yesterday 
evening  from  Widow  Wigley's  to  camp  in  woods  three  miles  farther 
to  our  right  in  rear  of  Kood  on  settlement  road  leading  into  Marietta 
road.  Yesterday  telegram  sent  to  General  Bragg  (last  was  on  28th) ; 
another  to  Governor  Brown.  The  quiet  of  the  enemy  on  Tuesday 
on  the  left,  sharpshooting  only,  no  reply  oeing  made  to  our  bat 
teries,  and  the  small  force  observed  from  Ellsberry  Mountain,  oppo 
site  Walker,  induced  the  belief  that  the  force  at  Dallas  was  small. 
Yesterday  morning  at  daylight  enemy  commenced  moving  his  forces 
from  Dallas  to  his  left.  From  left  of  Mercer's  brigade  on  Ellsberry 
Mountain  heavy  columns  of  infantry  well  closed  up  became  visible 
at  7  o'clock,  and  continued  in  sirht  until  9  or  10  a.  m.  Major  Lee 
and  others  observed  them  from  the  mountain,  and  reported  frequently. 
About  midday  the  General  rides  to  mountain.  In  front  of  Walker 
the  enemy  kept  their  skirmishers  close  to  ours,  but  no  troops  at  the 
time  to  support  them  in  the  entrenchments,  two  lines  of  which  had 
been  erected  several  days  before.  We  could  see  a  few  wagons  pass 
ing  in  their  front  on  the  Burnt  Hickory  road,  but  in  the  distance 
the  roods  to  Burnt  Hickory  and  that  from  Burnt  Hickory  to  New 
Hope  Church  could  be  seen  miles  off,  and  wagons  three  miles  off 
passing  continually.  The  dust  marked  the  progress  when  the  road 
could  not  be  seen.  Wagons  were,  moving  to  New  Hope  Church,  and 
the  dust  also  showed  traveling  beyond  the  cross-roads  to  Burnt 


144  HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

Hickory,  in  direction  of  river.  Officers  observing  the  movements 
early  in  the  day,  said  a  column  moved  from  left  and  occupied  breast 
works  in  front  of  Mercer  and  Cheatham  to  cover  passage  of  others 
along  road.  Afterward  line  of  battle  was  formed  at  right  angles  to 
fortifications.  I  saw  line  of  battle  when  rode  first  to  mountain  to 
see  Major  L(ee)  and  observe  with  map.  Jackson's  scouts  reported 
same  movement,  and  about  1  o'clock  Armstrong  entered  Dallas.  He 
reported  one-half  enemy  had  taken  the  Burnt  Hickory  or  Carters- 
ville  road  leading  toward  Douthardt's  bridge  (so  General  Walker 
was  told  by  residents)  and  the  other  corps  had  taken  the  Acworth 
road  leading  from  Dallas  to  New  Hope  Church.  No  cavalry  at  Dal 
las  since  Sunday.  Cleburne  was  moved  from  supporting  distance  of 
Walker  farther  to  right.  Last  evening  heavy  column  of  cavalry, 
with  artillery,  moved  from  Cartersville,  and  encamped  at  Allatoona; 
another  cavalry  column,  reported  5,000,  moved  last  evening  up  Dal 
las  and  Allatoona  road  to  Allatoona.  It  seems  all  their  cavalry  is 
on  our  right.  Yesterday  confidential  circular  directing  withdrawal 
at  night  to  Lost  Mountain  recalled  4  p.  m.  Last  night  all  quiet; 
also  to-day,  except  some  cannonading  on  Hood's  line.  About  noon 
Hood  reported  enemy  double-quicking  to  his  right  and  attack  ex 
pected.  Bate,  Cleburne,  and  Walker  sent  on  right;  attack  expected 
in  morning,  though  all  quiet  now  (dusk) ;  all  quiet  in  front  of 
Wheeler.  Yesterday  information  about  movements  of  enemy  from 
Decatur  toward  Sherman  received  from  S.  D.  Lee;  from  Jackson's 
and  Wheeler's  scouts,  7,000  or  8,000  moved  from  Decatur  on  Somer- 
ville  road  on  2nd. 

Saturday,  June  4  ,1864. — (Midday.)  No  attack  yesterday  by 
enemy,  as  Generals  Hood  and  Hardee  expected.  Headquarters  un 
changed.  Telegram  yesterday  from  General  Bragg.  Lee  in  line 
near  Mechanicsville,  confronting  Grant.  Butler  gone  to  join 
G(rant).  Beauregard  at  Richmond.  Two  more  ciphers  from  Lee 
yesterday  (S.  D.);  the  last  said  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  with 
eighteen  pieces  of  artillery,  was  moving  toward  Okolona  rapidly,  and 
that  Forrest  had  been  recalled  from  Russellville,  and  he  would  have 
to  withdraw  most  of  his  cavalry  from  Middle  Alabama.  So,  the  great 
results  anticipated  from  a  raid  of  the  Mississippi  cavalry  in  Sher 
man's  rear  are  not  to  be  fulfilled  at  an  early  day.  This  column  from 
Memphis  may  eventually  endeavor  to  join  Sherman.  Before  re 
ceipt  of  these  dispatches  General  '  J  (ohnston)  had  telegraphed  Lee 
that  a  raid  between  S(herman's)  army  and  Chattanooga  would  do 
much  harm.  Telegraphed  also  to  General  B.  for  information  to  move 
ments  of  Mississippi  cavalry,  to  which  reference  was  made  in  B.'s 
dispatch,  Accounts  of  progress  of  the  column  moving  toward 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  145 

Rome;  from  many  sources  expected  at  Gadsden  on  1st  of  June,  four 
days'  march  from  Rome;  according  to  one  account  1,000  sent  from 
HuntsviFle  by  rail.  Chalmers  was  to  move  from  Montevallo  to 
Blue  Mountain  a  day  or  two  ago.  Rumor  already  places  him  at 
Rome.  Blair  (or  Griffin)  said  to  be  moving  rapidly — fourteen  miles 
per  day;  made  forced  marches  from  Clinton  and  Pulaski.  He  hasn't 
over  6,000  to  10,000;  is  mounting  infantry  as  fast  as  (he)  can  seize 
horses,  desolating  the  country.  One  account  represented  this  force 
from  Louisiana,  that  from  Memphis  no  doubt  is.  Large  detach 
ments  were  made  from  Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  and 
sent,  under  A.  J.  Smith,  to  Red  River.  Besides  these  reinforce 
ments  prisoners  and  scouts  report  100-day  men  coming  down  to 
guard  communications.  One  of  Thomas'  couriers  recently  cap 
tured  says  nineteen  regiments  expected  soon.  Scouts  say  3,000  of 
100-days  cavalry  at  Columbia,  Middle  Tenn.  Many  officers  of  this 
army,  as  well  as  the  people  arid  army  in  the  East,  think  there  is  very 
little  disparity  in  the  size  of  this  army  and  Sherman's,  and  urge  an 
immediate  attack.  S(herman)  has  at  least  60,000  effective  infantry 
now,  supposing  him  to  have  lost  12,000  to  15,000  since  leaving  Chat 
tanooga.  Our  effective  total  infantry  about  44,000.  Rousseau  ex 
pected  with  a  division  from  the  rear.  Since  leaving  Dalton  our  entire 
loss  not  over  6,000.  Many  new  troops  sent  to  rear  foot-sore  will 
come  up.  Army  better  fed  (one-half  pound  bacon  with  meal  or 
hard  bread)  than  ever,  whisky  or  coffee  occasionally  issued.  Troops 
in  fine  spirits.  Implicit  confidence.  All  baggage  wagons  south  of 
Chattahoochee.  One  wagon  for  cooking  utensils  of  a  brigade  de 
tached  from  general  train.  This  campaign  of  a  month  shows  that 
the  army  can  get  along  with  no  baggage,  and  can  be  supplied 
twenty  miles  from  railroad.  General  Jackson  says  captured  letters 
of  General  Hazen  show  enemy  to  be  in  straits  about  rations — not 
paid  for  three  months.  (Thomas'  orders  say  men  and  horses  well 
fed.)  Enemy  yesterday  reported  commencing  to  rebuild  Etowah 
railroad  bridge;  his  line  moving  gradually  to  right,  followed  by 
ours;  will  not  attack,  but  will  fortify  on  Allatoona  Heights  and 
wait  for  supplies  and  reinforcements.  No  fight  for  two  weeks. 
Cheatham  on  extreme  left,  next  Polk,  then  Hood  and  Hardee  (and 
their  divisions)  on  right.  Colonel  Cole,  transportation  quartermas 
ter,  here.  Feeling  in  army:  One  lieutenant-general  talks  about  attack 
and  not  giving  ground,  publicly,  and  quietly  urges  retreat." 

July  1st,  1864.  On  the  skirmish  line  occupying  light  skirmish  pits 
with  head  logs,  erected  by  troops  we  relieved,  lots  of  skirmishing  and 
random  firing  all  day.  A  new  Wisconsin  regiment  join  us  on  the  left 


146  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

in  which  there  are  many  Indians,  who  seem  to  prefer  to  practice  their 
mode  of  skirmishing  to  that  laid  down  in  the  tactics;  as  it  is  a  free  and 
easy  fight  with  every  man  for  himself,  their  officers  allow  them  to  adopt 
their  bushwhacking  tactics.  On  the  second  we  were  relieved  from  the 
skirmish  line  taking  position  in  support  of  our  batteries  on  the  foot 
hills  in  plain  view  of  the  heavy  fortifications  on  the  crest  of  Kenesaw. 
Early  in  the  evening  about  fifty  of  our  pieces  opened  up  on  them;  they 
replied  vigorously  from  their  fort  for  a  short  time;  we  could  plainly  see 
the  dirt  flying  around  the  embrasures  of  their  works,  which  made  them 
desist  and  seek  shelter.  As  soon  as  it  was  dark  we  muffled  the  wheels 
of  our  artillery,  quietly  withdrew  to  the  right,  swinging  around  Kene 
saw  and  by  daylight  we  were  well  in  rear  of  the  mountain  headed  for 
the  Chatahoochee  river  causing  Johnston  to  abandon  Kenesaw  and 
Marietta  and  fall  back  to  Smyrna  Camp  Ground,  where  he  was  not  al 
lowed  to  linger  long  as  we  were  making  good  time  for  the  river  and  his 
rear.  3rd,  we  made  a  hurried  march,  in  the  hot  sun,  many  fell  out  of 
the  ranks  prostrated  with  the  heat,  marched  until  late  in  the  night 
when  we  were  ordered  to  build  breastworks;  men  worked  with  credita 
ble  energy  and  cheerfulness,  notwithstanding  the  tedious  march  of  the 
day;  camped  about  four  miles  from  the  Chatahoochee  river  within  sight 
of  Kenesaw.  4th.  We  needed  no  blank  cartridges  to  celebrate  our 
National  holiday,  as  a  battle  was  raging  all  around  us  with  plenty  of 
noise  from  shotted  guns  and  plenty  of  fire-works  in  the  evening, 
from  the  burning  fuses  of  screeching  shells,  like  rockets  and  roman  can 
dles  in  the  heavens  above  that  lit  up  with  a  lurid  light  a  scene  of  horror. 
Early  in  the  morning  the  4th  division  moved  out  on  the  Ruff's  Station 
road,  and,  encountering  the  enemy,  pressed  him  back  for  a  distance  of 
two  miles  and  until  he  was  developed  in  a  strong  line  of  entrenchments 
in  heavy  force.  Prisoners  taken  from  Hoods  entire  Corps  were  in  our 
front;  the  2nd  division  was  brought  up  and  placed  in  position  on  the 
right  of  the  4th  division,  and  the  command  proceeded  to  intrench  and 
develop  fully  the  enemy's  position.  At  4  p.  m.  a  charging  column  of 
our  division,  consisting  of  the  39th  and  27th  Ohio,  the  64th  Illinois  of 
the  4th  division,  under  command  of  Col.  E.  F.  Noyes;  and  the  81st 
Ohio  and  66th  Ills.,  and  2nd  Iowa  Infantry  of  our  division,  was  formed, 
and  gallantly  charged  and  carried  the  enemy's  works,  capturing  over 
100  prisoners.  In  this  charge  our  loss  was  about  140  killed  and 
wounded.  Among  the  latter  was  Colonel  Noyes  who  lost  a  leg.  During 
this  charge  our  regiment  was  laying  supporting,  battery  "H"  1st  Mis 
souri  and  were  subjected  to  a  heavy  cannonading  by  the  enemy's  bat 
teries  opposing  us.  The  enemy  soon  abandoned  his  entire  line  and  re 
treated  to  the  Chatahoochee.  Many  prisoners  were  taken  who  seemed 
to  be  discouraged  at  the  prospects  for  their  cause.  Marched  5  miles. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  147 

Men  make  a  private  truce  with  the  Johnnies,  freely  converse  with  them 
and  trade  coffee  to  them  for  tobacco.  6th,  remained  in  camp  all  day, 
weather  hot  and  dry.  7th,  still  in  camp;  can  hear  cannonading  in  the 
distance  on  the  river.  8'th,  in  camp  remaining  in  uncertainty.  Oc 
casionally  a  cannon  can  be  heard  to  our  left  and  front,  with  some 
musketry.  Wild  blackberries,  large  and  luscious,  grow  in  profusion, 
from  which  we  feasted.  9th,  broke  camp  at  11  a.  m.,  marched  until 
10  p.  m.,  passing  through  Marietta,  camping  two  miles  beyond.  Heavy 
cannonading  all  day  in  the  front.  Heat  excessive  and  roads  dusty,  caus 
ing  much  straggling.  Yesterday  we  were  on  the  extreme  right  of  the 
army;  now  we  seem  to  be  moving  to  the  extreme  left.  This  makes  the 
third  time  on  this  campaign  that  our  corps  has  been  transferred  from 
one  flank  of  the  army  to  the  other;  these  movements  require  forced 
marches,  and  in  the  hot  weather  are  extremely  hard  on  men.  Marched 
14  miles.  10th,  moved  out  at  3  o'clock  a.  m.,  passing  through  Rosswell, 
arrive  at  the  Chatahoochee  river,  which  is  rapid  and  about  a  half  mile 
wide  and  from  one  to  four  feet  deep,  which  we  proceed  to.  cross  immed 
iately  by  wading;  as  we  emerge  from  the  river  we  get  a  thorough 
drenching  from  a  heavy  downpour  of  rain,  but  as  we  are  wet  through 
anyway  from  fording,  it  makes  no  difference;  in  fact  it  is  refreshing 
after  marching  in  the  dusty  roads.  The  storm  extended  well  into  the 
night,  accompanied  by  heavy  thunder  and  lightning.  We  are  without 
tents  or  other  protection  except  our  rubber  ponchos.  It  hardly  seems 
possible  that  men  can  endure  such  privations  and  hardships  and  live. 
We  worked  building  breastworks  during  the  night,  llth,  remained  in 
position  all  day  strengthening  our  works  and  making  abatis  in  front; 
battery  'H"  brought  up  and  placed  in  position  in  the  works  between  our 
regiment  and  the  66th  Indiana.  The  pioneer  corps  built  a  foot  bridge 
across  the  river  and  built  a  wagon  bridge  on  the  abutments  and  piers 
of  the  bridge  burned  by  the  rebels.  General  Dodge  also  constructed 
the  railroad  bridge  to  replace  the  one  destroyed  by  the  enemy.  It  is 
a  high  trestle  and  required  skilled  engineering  ability  to  plan  it,  which 
luckily  Gen.  Dodge  possessed,  he  having  been  a  civil  engineer  and 
engaged  in  the  construction  of  railroads  before  the  war.  12th,  still 
in  camp;  details  for  fatigue  duty  are  exceedingly  heavy  in  carrying  on 
the  works  of  building  the  bridge  and  roads  in  the  rear  of  our  line  so 
the  wagon  trains  could  pass.  All  quiet  on  the  Chatahoochee.  Men  not 
on  detail  engaged  in  picking  wild  blackberries,  with  which  the  country 
abounds.  13th,  all  quiet  m  camp,  still  engaged  in  building  bridge  and 
fatigue  duty.  14th,  still  retain  our  position;  have  inspection.  In  the 
evening  there  was  a  terrific  electric  storm;  it  was  reported  that  in  a 
Michigan  regiment  camped  near  us  there  were  five  killed  and  fourteen 
wounded  by  lightning  while  lying  under  their  stacks  of  arms,  also 


148  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

some  battery  horses.  Having  no  tents  we  got  a  good  soaking.  15th, 
remained  quiet  in  camp  all  day;  visited  by  General  McPherson  and  staff. 
17th,  still  remain  in  our  position  with  orders  to  be  ready  to  move  at 
a  moments  notice,  with  forty  rounds  of  cartridges  in  boxes  and  twenty 
extra  rounds  in  haversacks,  which  indicates  there  is  business  in  front 
in  prospect  for  us.  Moved  out  of  our'works  at  noon,  advancing  towards 
Decatur,  delayed  by  waiting  for  the  15th  corps  to  pass,  as  there  was 
only  one  road;  our  advance  came  across  the  enemy  in  force  about  four 
miles  out  at  Cross  Keys  and  were  checked  for  a  short  time;  went  into 
bivouac  in  line  of  battle  ready  for  action. 

18th,  marched  at  6  a.  m.,  our  brigade  and  battery  in  advance; 
movements  made  very  cautiously,  with  flanks  well  up  and  protected, 
as  though  we  expected  to  meet  the  enemy  in  fo'rce.  Rebel  cavalry 
watching  us  closely  and  suddenly  falling  back,  with  little  opposition. 
Camped  about  noon,  distance  marched  seven  miles;  we  are  now  seven 
miles  from  Decatur  and  13  miles  from  Atlanta.  The  interval  of  waiting 
was  employed  in  collecting  stores  at  Allatoona,  Marietta  and  Vining's 
Station,  strengthening  the  railway  guards  and  garrisons,  and  improv 
ing  the  bridges  and  roads  leading  across  the  river.  17th,  the  whole 
army  advanced  from  their  camps  and  formed  a  general  line  along  Peach 
Tree  Creek  and  road.  The  same  day  Jefferson  Davis  relieved  General 
Johnston  from  the  command  of  the  Confederate  Army  of  the  Tennessee, 
and  designated  Lieut.  General  Hood  as  his  successor;  the  reason  given 
for  it  that  Johnston  had  failed  to  arrest  the  advance  of  the  Union  army 
to  the  vicinity  of  Atlanta  and  had  expressed  no  confidence  that  he 
could  defeat  it.  Johnston  with  an  army  larger  than  he  had  at  the  be 
ginning  of  the  campaign,  behind  secure  fortifications,  was  preparing 
to  attack  the  Union  army,  largely  reduced  by  losses,  by  detachments, 
and  by  expiration  of  enlistments,  in  a  position  south  of  all  the  barriers 
it  had  passed,  where  defeat  would  be  so  decisive  for  us,  as  to  cost  us  all 
the  fruits  already  gained  and  months  of  delay,  but  undecisive  for  the 
confederates,  who  could  retire  behind  their  works,  vtoo  strong  for  as 
sault  and  too  extensive  for  investment.  At  this  crisis  of  the  campaign, 
Johnston  prudent,  wary  and  exhaustive  in  his  plans,  brave  and  skillful 
in  their  execution,  was  displaced  by  his  successor,  brave  but  rash, 
The  Confederate  tactics  were  changed,  and  the  battle  that  Johnston, 
at  the  very  moment  when  he  was  relieved,  was  about  to  deliver  upon 
the  decisive  point  with  thorough  preparation,  was  delivered  by  Hood 
upon  the  first  point  that  presented  itself,  with  impetuosity.  This  was 
an  opportunity  that  we  long  had  sought,  when  our  oponents  would 
come  out  in  the  open  and  give  us  a  fair  open  fight. 

19th.  Marched  slowly  and  cautiously  all  day  passing  through 
Decatur  where  were  stored  a  lot  of  rebel  supplies,  among  which  is  a 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  149 

lot  of  cavalry  lances  about  ten  feet  long,  with  a  small  flag  on  each; 
should  think  they  would  not  be  of  as  much  practical  use  in  battle  as 
a  ball  club.  The  whole  army  is  forming  battle  line,  connecting  wifh 
each  other  from  right  to  left.  2oth,  advance  with  skirmishers  hotly 
engaged,  until  the  enemy's  front  is  fully  developed,  when  intrenching 
tools  are  distributed  and  heavy  details  are  set  to  work  throwing  up  de 
fenses.  During  the  afternoon  the  enemy  sallied  from  his  works  in 
force  against  Newton's  division  of  Howard's  corps,  and  Johnson  s 
division  of  Palmer's  corps.  The  blow  was  sudden  and  unexpected, 
but  General  Newton  had  hastily  covered  his  front  by  a  line  of  rail 
piles,  which  enabled  him  to  meet  and  repulse  the  attack  on  him.  Gen 
eral  Hooker's  corps,  although  uncovered,  and  compelled  to  fight  on 
comparatively  open  ground,  after  a  severe  battle,  drove  the  enemy 
back  to  his  intrenchments.  The  action  in  front  of  Jackson's  division 
was  comparatively  light  as  the  position  was  well  intrenched.  Sher 
man's  entire  loss  was  about  fifteen  hundred  killed,  wounded  and  miss 
ing — chiefly  in  Hooker's  corps,  by  reason  of  its  exposed  position. 

Johnston  in  his  narrative  explains  his  plan  of  operations  when 
relieved,  as  follows: 

"In  transferring  the  command  to  General  Hood  I  explained  my 
plans  to  him.  First,  I  expected  an  opportunity  to  engage  the  enemy 
on  terms  of  advantage  while  they  were  divided  in  crossing  Peach-Tree 
Creek,  trusting  to  General  Wheeler's  vigilance  for  the  necessary  in 
formation.  If  successful,  the  great  divergance  of  the  Federal  line  of 
retreat  from  the  direct  route  available  to  us  would  enable  us  to  secure 
decisive  results;  if  unsuccessful,  we  had  a  safe  place  of  refuge  in  our 
entrenched  lines  close  at  hand.  Holding  it,  we  could  certainly  keep 
back  the  enemy,  as  at  New  Hope  Church  and  in  front  of  Marietta,  un 
til  the  State  troops  promised  by  Governor  Brown  were  assembled. 
Then,  I  intended  to  man  the  works  of  Atlanta  on  the  side  toward  Peach- 
Tree  Creek  with  those  troops,  and  leisurely  fall  back  with  the  Con 
federate  troops  into  the  town,  and,  when  the  Federal  army  approached, 
march  out  with  the  three  corps  against  one  of  its  flanks.  If  we  were 
successful,  the  enemy  would  be  driven  against  the  Chattahoochee  where 
there  are  no  fords,  or  to  the  east,  away  from  their  communications,  as 
the  attack  might  fall  on  the  right  or  left.  If  unsuccessful,  the  Con 
federate  army  had  a  near  and  secure  place  of  refuge  in  Atlanta,  which 
it  could  hold  forever,  and  so  win  the  campaign,  of  which  that  place 
was  the  object.  The  passage  of  Peach-Tree  Creek  may  not  have  given 
an  opportunity  to  attack;  but  there  is  no  reason  to  think  that  the  sec 
ond  and  far  more  promising  plan  might  not  have  been  executed." 


150  HISTORY    OP    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

Following  are  the  plans  of  movements  arranged  by  General  Sher 
man  as  shown  in  his  memoirs: 

"On  the  17th  we  began  the  general  movement  against  Atlanta, 
Thomas  crossing  the  Chattahoochee  at  Power's  and  Paice's,  by  pon 
toon  bridges;  Scofield  moving  out  toward  Cross  Keys,  and  McPherson 
toward  Stone  Mountain.  We  encountered  but  little  opposition  except 
by  cavalry.  On  the  18th  all  the  armies  moved  on  a  general  right  wheel, 
Thomas  to  Buckhead,  forming  line  of  battle  facing  Peach-Tree  Creek; 
Scofield  was  on  his  left,  and  McPherson  well  over  toward  the  railroad 
between  Stone  Mountain  and.Decatur,  which  we  reached  at  2  p.  m.  of 
that  day,  about  four  miles  from  Stone  Mountain,  and  seven  miles  east  of 
Decatur,  and  there  he  turned  toward  Atlanta,  breaking  up  the  railroad 
as  he  progressed,  his  advance-guard  reaching  Decatur  about  night, 
where  he  came  into  communication  with  Schofield's  troops,  which  had 
also  reached  Decatur.  About  10  a.  m.  of  that  day  (July  18th),  when 
the  armies  were  all  in  motion,  one  of  General  Thomas'  staff-officers 
brought  me  a  citizen,  one  of  our  spies,  who  had  just  come  out  of  At 
lanta,  and  had  brought  a  newspaper  of  the  same  day,  or  of  the  day  be 
fore,  containing  Johnston's  order  relinquishing  the  command  of  the 
Confederate  forces  in  Atlanta,  and  Hood's  order  assuming  the  com 
mand.  I  immediately  inquired  of  General  Scofield,  who  v/as  my  class 
mate  at  West  Point,  about  Hood,  as  to  his  general  character,  etc.,  and 
"learned  that  he  was  bold  even  to  rashness,  and  courageous  in  the  ex 
treme;  I  inferred  that  the  change  of  commanders  meant  "fight."  No 
tice  of  this  important  change  was  at  once  sent  to  all  parts  of  the  army, 
and  every  division  commander  was  cautioned  to  be  always  prepared 
for  battle  in  any  shape.  This  was  just  what  we  wanted,  viz.,  to  fight 
in  open  ground,  on  any  thing  like  equal  terms,  instead  of  being  forced 
to  run  up  against  prepared  intrenchments;  but,  at  the  same  time,  the 
enemy  having  Atlanta  behind  him,  could  choose  the  time  and  place  of 
attack,  and  could  at  pleasure  mass  a  superior  force  on  our  weakest 
points.  Therefore,  we  had  to  be  constantly  ready  for  sallies. 

"On  the  19th  the  three  armies  were  converging  toward  Atlanta, 
meeting  such  feeble  resistance  that  I  really  thought  the  enemy  in 
tended  to  evacuate  the  place.  McPherson  was  moving  astride  of  the 
railroad,  near  Decatur;  Scofield  along  a  road  leading  toward  Atlanta, 
by  Colonel  Howard's  house  and  the  distillery;  and  Thomas  was  crossing 
"Peach-Tree"  in  line  of  battle,  building  bridges  for  nearly  every  di 
vision  as  deployed.  There  was  quite  a  gap  between  Thomas  and  Sco 
field,  which  I  endeavored  to  close  by  drawing  two  of  Howard's  divisions 
nearer  Scofield.  On  the  20th  I  was  with  General  Scofield  near  the  center, 
and  soon  after  noon  heard  heavy  firing  in  front  of  Thomas's  right, 
which  lasted  an  hour  or  so,  and  then  ceased.  I  soon  learned  that  the 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  151 

enemy  had  made  a  furious  sally,  the  blow  falling  on  Hooker's  corps 
(the  Twentieth),  and  partially  on  Johnson's  division  of  the  Fourteenth, 
and  Newton's  of  the  Fourth.  The  troops  had  crossed  Peach-Tree  Creek, 
were  deployed,  but  at  the  time  were  resting  for  noon,  when,  without 
notice,  the  enemy  came  pouring  out  of  their  trenches  down  upon  them, 
they  became  commingled,  and  fought  in  many  places  hand  to  hand. 
General  Thomas  happened  to  be  near  the  rear  of  Newton's  division,  and 
got  some  field-batteries  in  a  good  position,  on  the  north  side  of  Peach- 
Tree  Creek,  from  which  he  directed  a  furious  fire  on  a  mass  of  the 
enemy,  which  was  passing  around  Newton's  left  and  exposed  flank. 
After  a  couple  of  hours  of  hard  and  close  conflict,  the  enemj  retired 
slowly  within  his  trenches,  leaving  his  dead  and  many  wounded  on 
the  field.  Johnson's  and  Newton's  losses  were  light,  for  they  had  par 
tially  covered  their  fronts  with  light  parapet;  but  Hooker's  whole  corps 
fought  in  open  ground,  and  lost  about  fifteen  hundred  men.  He  reported 
four  hundred  rebel  dead  left  on  the  ground,  and  that  the  rebel  wound 
ed  would  number  four  thousand;  but  this  was  conjectural,  for  most  of 
tnem  got  back  within  their  own  lines.  We  had,  however,  met  success 
fully  a  bold  sally,  had  repelled  it  handsomely,  and  were  also  put  on 
our  guard;  and  the  event  illustrated  the 'future  tactics  of  our  enemy. 
Tnis  sally  came  from  the  Peach-Tree  line,  which  General  Johnston 
had  carefully  prepared  in  advance,  from  which  to  fight  us  outside  of 
Atlanta.  We  then  advanced  our  lines  in  compact  order,  close  up  to 
these  finished  intrenchments,  overlapping  them  on  our  left.  From  var 
ious  parts  of  our  lines  the  houses  inside  of  Atlanta  were  plainly  vis 
ible,  though  between  us  were  the  strong  parapets,  with  ditch,  fraise, 
chevaux'-de-frise,  and  abatis,  prepared  long  in  advance  by  Colonel 
Jeremy  F.  Gilmer,  formerly  of  the  United  States  Engineers.  McPherson 
had  the  Fifteenth  Corps  astride  the  Augusta  Railroad,  and  the  Seven- 
teentn  deployed  on  its  left.  Scofield  was  next  on  his  right,  then  came 
Howard's,  Hooker's,  and  Palmer's  corps,  on  the  extreme  right.  Each 
corps  was  deployed  witn  strong  reserves,  and  their  trains  were  parked 
to  their  rear.  McPherson's  trains  were  in  Decatur,  guarded  by  a  bri 
gade  commanded  by  Colonel  Sprague  of  the  Sixty-thiru  Ohio.  The 
Sixteenth  Corps  (Dodge's)  was  crowded  out  of  position  on  the  right  o. 
McPherson's  line,  by  the  contraction  of  the  circle  of  investment;  and, 
during  the  previous  aiternoon,  the  Seventeenth  Corps  (Blair's)  had 
pushed  its  operations  on  the  farther  side  of  the  Augusta  Railroad,  so 
as  to  secure  possession  of  a  hill,  known  as  Leggett's  Hill,  because 
General  Leggett's  envision  had  carried  it  by  assault.  Giles  A.  Smith's 
division  was  on  Leggett's  left,  deployed  with  a  weak  left  flank  "in  air," 
in  military  phraseology.  It  was  in  carrying  this  hill  that  General 
Gresham,  a  great  favorite,  was  badly  wounded;  and  there  also  Colonel 


152  HISTORY  OF  THE  SEVENTH  IOWA 

Tom  Reynolds,  now  of  Madison,  Wisconsin,  was  shot  through  the  leg. 
When  the  surgeons  were  debating  the  propriety  of  amputating  it  in  his 
hearing,  he  begged  them  to  spare  the  leg,  as  it  was  very  valuable,  being 
an  "imported  leg."  He  was  of  Irish  birth,  and  this  well-timed  piece  of 
wit  saved  his  leg,  for  the  surgeons  thought,  if  he  could  perpetrate  a  joke 
at  such  a  time,  they  would  trust  to  his  vitality  to  save  his  limb. 

"During  the  night,  I  had  full  reports  from  all  parts  of  our  line 
most  of  which  was  partially  intrenched  as  against  a  sally,  and  finding 
that  McPherson  was  stretching  out  too  much  on  his  left  flank,  I  wrote 
him  a  note  early  in  the  morning  not  to  extend  so  much  by  his  left;  for 
we  had  not  troops  enough  to  completely  invest  the  place,  and  I  intended 
to  destroy  utterly  all  parts  of  the  Augusta  railroad  to  the  east  of  Atlan 
ta,  then  to  withdraw  from  the  left  flank  and  add  to  the  right.  In  that 
letter  I  ordered  McPherson  not  to  extend  any  farther  to  the  left,  but  to 
employ  General  Dodge's  corps  (Sixteenth),  then  forced  out  of  position, 
to  destroy  every  rail  and  tie  of  the  railroad,  from  Decatur  up  to  his 
skirmish-line,  and  I  wanted  him  (McPherson)  'to  be  ready,  as  soon  as 
General  Garrard  returned  from  Covington  (whither  I  had  sent  him),  to 
move  to  the  extreme  right  of  Thomas,  so  as  to  reach  if  possible  the  rail 
road  below  Atlanta,  viz.,  the  -Macon  road.  In  the  morning  we  found 
the  strong  line  of  parapet,  "Peach-Tree  line,"  to  the  front  of  Scofield 
and  Thomas, abandoned,and  our  lines  were  advanced  rapidly  close  up  to 
Atlanta.'  For  some  minutes  I  supposed  the  enemy  intended  to  evacuate, 
and  in  person  was  on  horseback  at  the  head  of  Scofield's  troops,  who 
had  advanced  in  front  of  the  Howard  House  to  some  open  ground, 
from  which  we  could  plainly  see  the  whole  rebel  line  of  parapets,  "and 
I  saw  their  men  dragging  up  from  the  intervening  valley,  by  the  dis 
tillery,  trees  and  saplings  for  abatis.  Our  skirmishers  found  the  enemy 
down  this  valley,  and  we  could  see  the  rebel  main  line  strongly 
manned,  with  guns  in  position  at  intervals.  Scofield  was  dressing  for 
ward  his  lines,  and  I  could  hear  Thomas  farther  to  the  right  engaged, 
when  General  McPherson  and  his  staff  rode  up.  We  went  back  to  the 
Howard  House,  a  double  frame-building  with  a  porch,  and  sat  on  the 
steps,  discussing  the  chances  of  battle,  and  of  Hood's  general  character. 
McPherson  had  also  been  of  the  same  class  at  West  Point  with  Hood, 
Scofield,  and  Sheridan.  We  agreed  that  we  ought  to  be  unusually  cau 
tious  and  prepared  at  all  times  for  sallies  and  for  hard  fighting,  be 
cause  Hood,  though  not  deemed  much  of  a  scholar,  or  of  great  mental 
capacity,  was  undoubtedly  a  brave,  determined,  and  rash  man;  and 
the  change .  of  commanders  at  that  particular  crisis  argued  the  dis 
pleasure  of  the  Confederate  Government  with  the  cautious  but  prudent 
conduct  of  General  Jos.  Johnston. 

"McPherson  was  in  excellent  spirits,  well  pleased  at  the  progress 
of  events  so  far,  and  had  come  over  purposely  to  see  me  about  the  order 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  153 

I  had  given  him  to  use  Dodge's  corps  to  break  up  the  railroad,  saying 
that  the  night  before  he  had  gained  a  position  on  Leggett's  Hill  from 
which  he  could  look  over  the  rebel  parapet,  and  see  the  high  smoke 
stack  of  a  large  foundry  in  Atlanta;  that  before  receiving  my  order 
he  had  diverted  Dodge's  two  divisions  (then  in  motion)  from  the  main 
road,  along  a  diagonal  one  that  led  to  his  extreme  left  flank,  then  held 
by  Giles  A.  Smith's  division  (Seventeenth  Corps),  for  the  purpose  of 
strengthening  that  flank;  and  that  he  had  sent  some  intrenching-tools 
there,  to  erect  some  batteries  from  which  he  intended  to  knock  down 
that  foundry,  and  otherwise  to  damage  the  buildings  inside  of  Atlanta. 
He  said  he  could  put  all  his  pioneers  to  work,  and  do  with  them  in  the 
time  indicated  all  I  had  proposed  to  do  with  General  Dodge's  two  divi 
sions.  Of  course  I  assented  at  once,  and  we  walked  down  the -road  a 
short  distance,  sat  down  by  the  foot  of  a  tree  where  I  had  my  map,  and 
on  it  pointed  out  to  him  Thomas's  position  and  his  own.  I  then  ex 
plained  minutely  that,  after  we  had  sufficiently  broken  up  the  Augusta 
road,  I  wanted  to  shift  his  whole  army  around  by  the  rear  to  Thomas's 
extreme  right,  and  hoped  thus  to  reach  the  other  railroad  at  Bast 
Point.  While  we  sat  there  we  could  hear  lively  skirmishing  going  on 
near  us  (down  about  the  distillery),  and  occasionally  round-shot  from 
twelve  or  twenty-four  pound  guns  came  -through  the  trees  in  reply  to 
those  of  Scofield,  and  we  could  hear  similar  sounds  all  along  down  the 
lines  of  Thomas  to  our  right,  and  his  own  to  the  left;  but  presently  the 
firing  appeared  a  little  more  brisk  (especially  over  about  Giles  A. 
Smith's  division),  and  then  we  heard  an  occasional  gun  back  toward 
Decatur.  I  asked  him  what  it  meant.  We  took  my  pocket-compass 
(which  I  always  carried),  and  by  noting  the  direction  of  the  sound, 
we  became  satisfied  that  the  firing  was  too  far  to  our  left  rear  to  be 
explained  by  known  facts,  and  he  hastily  called  for  his  horse,  his  staff, 
and  his  orderlies."  * 


Such   was  the   condition   of  matters  on  the   eve  of  the   battle  of 
Atlanta. 

On  the  evening  of  the  21st,  we  advanced  our  lines  cautiously  up 

o  the  skirmishers  and  hurriedly  threw  up  works;  we  got  close  up  to 

their  skirmish  line  under  cover  of  timber  and  brush  and  dug  holes  like 

adgers  to  protect  ourselves  before  being  discovered.     It  is  astonish- 

ig  how  quick  men  will  entrench  and  get  temporary  cover,  under  per- 

lasion  of  sharpshooters  of  an  enemy.     They  need  no  urging  to  keep 

icm   busy  as  beavers  until  they  get  protection  from   oullets.     There 

as  heavy  fighting  on  Bald  Hill  to  our  left  throughout   .he  day,  and 

la  Joe  Hooker  was  pounding  them  back  in  his  front  towards  Atlanta. 


154  HISTORY    OP   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

BATTLE  OF   ATLANTA. 

July  22,  1864,  an  ever  memorable  date  to  those  who  participated 
in  the  terrible  battle  of  Atlanta.  Our  regiment  being  on  the  advance 
line,  at  the  right  of  the  army,  commenced  at  daylight  to  press  the 
enemy's  sidrmishers  in  to  the  main  works  around  Atlanta,  advancing 
slowly  but  steadily;  about  8  o'clock  a.  m.  we  heard  heavy  firing  to  our 
left,  when  we  were  hastily  withdrawn  to  the  left  and  rear,  and  are  or 
dered  to  double  quick  across  the  railroad  and  about  three  miles  to  the 
extreme  left  of  the  army,  where  from  the  sound  a  battle  was  raging 
in  all  its  fury.  We  pass  many  teams  going  to  :he  rear  in  much  confus 
ion  and  Keep  on  in  the  hot  sun  on  the  run;  staff  officers  urging  our 
pace  to  the  limit,  some  men  falling  out  exhausted  by  the  roadside; 
we  are  halted  in  a  by-road  in  the  brush,  waiting  for  orders  to  be  placed; 
we  can  not  see  any  enemy  but  the  bullets  corns  whistling  up  the  road, 
infalading  our  line  as  we  wait;  those  who  have  knapsacks  or  blankets 
1?.'  them  down  and  get  behind  them  to  protect  themselves  from  the 
bullets  that  begin  to  come  thick  and  fast,  some  being  wounded  before 
they  got  sight  of  the  enemy.  We  had  not  laid  in  this  position  but  a  few 
minutes  wnen  we  were  nastily  ordered  lorwarcl  arid  lormed  in  an  open 
field  on  a  side  hill,  where  we  can  see  the  enemy  in  the  woods  at  the 
foot  of  the  nill,  massing  in  our  front;  skirmishers  were  at  once  sent 
out,  who  immediately  engaged  the  enemy  who  were  forming  in  the  tim 
ber,  while  the  regiment  nastily  gathered  rails  from  fences  near  by  and 
piled  them  up  in  a  row  on  the  ground  for  protection;  our  batteries 
were  formed  on  an  eminence  above  us  to  our  right  and  rear,  in  close 
range  of  the  enemy,  they  had  their  guns  double  shotted  with  grape 
and  cannister,  when  they  emerged  in  double  column,  and  tneir  officers 
goading  them  on,  with  an  apparent  determination  to  drive  us  back 
and  overwhelm  us;  but  our  batteries  tore  great  gaps  through  their 
ranks  and  we  heid  our  ground.  Our  batteries  being  in  rear  and  above 
us  they  could  fire  over  our  heads  without  danger  of  doing  us  mucn 
damage,  but  with  terrible  effect  on  our  foes,  which  we  could  plainly 
see.  They  would  waver,  fall  back,  form  and  come  again,  only  to  be 
hurled  back  again  with  greater  slaughter,  until  broken 
demoralized  and  disheartened  they  sullenly  and  reluctantly  withdrew 
The  17th  corps  to  our  right,  refused  their  left,  we  continued  the  same 
formation,  so  that  the  left  of  the  army  formed  shape  like  a  fish-hook 
On  the  first  formation  of  our  lines  our  brigade  occupied  the  extreniB 
left  of  the  army,  with  only  the  2nd  Iowa  to  the  left  of  our  regiment 
the  16th  corps  forming  the  bow  and  point;  as  the  17th  corps  were 
fronted  and  fighting  west,  and  most  of  the  16th  corps  fighting  east,  we 
were  exposed  to  fire  both  front  and  rear. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  155 

About  half  past  ten  o'clock  Lieut.  Col.  Wm.  T.  Clark,  McPher- 
son's  Asst.  Adjt.  General,  rode  up  and  communicated  to  General  Sher 
man  the  appalling  intelligence  that  General  McPherson  was  killed. 
That  he  had  ridden  to  General  Dodge's  column,  which  was  being 
placed  in  position,  and  had  sent  off  nearly  all  his  staff  and  orderlies 
on  various  errands,  and  himself  had  passed  out  through  a  gap  that  led 
to  the  left  and  rear  of  General  Giles  A.  Smith's  division,  which  was  the 
extreme  left  of  the  17th  corps;  that  a  few  minutes  after  he  had  entered 
the  woods  a  sharp  volley  was  heard  in  that  direction,  and  his  horse 
had  come  back  riderless  and  wounded  in  two  places.  There  was  no 
time  to  yield  to  grief  caused  by  this  terrible  calamity.  Not  an  instant 
was  to  be  lost.  Sherman  instantly  dispatched  a  staff-officer  to  General 
Logan  to  tell  him  what  had  happened  and  that  he  must  take  immediate 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  hold  stubbornly  the  ground 
chosen. 

The  troops  of  the  17th  corps  gained  the  outer  works  of  the  enemy, 
and  fought  back  and  forth  over  them,  sometimes  on  one  side  and 
sometimes  on  the  other.  They  were  so  close  together  at  times  that 
General  Belknap  reached  over  the  works  and  dragged  rebels  over  by 
hand,  sending  them  to  the  rear  as  prisoners.  The  enemy  broke  through 
our  lines  in  General  Fuller's  front,  when  General  Dodge  sent  him 
reinforcements  from  our  division,  who  drove  them  back  and  re 
established  our  lines. 

The  battle  was  determined  and  desperate  for  over  four  hours. 
Taught  by  sad  experience  of  defeat,  thy  held  their  own,  only  giving 
way  inch  by  inch,  clinging  with  desperate  tenacity,  even  when  all  hope 
of  ultimate  success  was  gone,  to  the  colors  now  little  more  than 
shreds,  by  which  they  stood,  with  a  courage  and  gallantry  which  won 
our  admiration. 

Finally  they  were  checked  and  driven  back  behind  their  works, 
leaving  more  than  three  thousand  dead  upon  the  field,  together  with 
thousands  of  wounded,  and  one  thousand  prisoners.  Their  total  loss 
must  have  been  at  least  eight  thousand,  while  our  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  and  prisoners  was  3,722. 

Fearing  a  depressing  effect  upon  the  troops,  the  knowledge  of 
General  McPherson's  death  was  kept  from  the  troops  until  after  the 
battle.  He  was  a  true  soldier;  tall,  straight,  and  of  commanding  ap 
pearance.  He  appreciated  the  fighting  man  and  mourned  the  loss  of 
brave  men  in  battle.  When  necessary  he  willingly  suffered  the  same 
privations  as  the  enlisted  man;  he  combined  all  that  appeals  to  an 
ideal  soldier — integrity,  courage  and  kindliness,  and  was  beloved  and 
his  death  mourned  by  the  whole  army. 


156  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

Night  closed  the  slaughter  and  carnage,  and  the  victory  was 
ours,  but  at  a  fearful  cost  of  life  and  suffering.  After  the  battle  the 
stillness  was  almost  appalling;  those  who  in  the  morning  were  eager 
for  the  fight  and  who  now  are  dead,  lie  there  in  the  darkness  as  they 
fell,  forming  yet  another  tableau  of  cruel  war.  As  if  by  common  con 
sent  the  fighting  flags  on  both  sides  sink  down  exhausted — 

"The  weary  to  sleep, 
And  the  wounded  to  die." 

And  the  living  and  wakeful  to  appreciate  and  contemplate  the 
grim  reality.  This  was  the  shadow  of  coming  events;  it  was  the  fore 
cast  of  the  end. 

This  was  a  battle  between  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  and  Hood's 
whole  army,  as  the  Armies  of  the  Cumberland  and  the  Ohio  were  not 
brought  into  action, the  battle  being  fought  on  the  left  wing,  with  the  in 
tention  as  Hood  said  of  crushing  our  left  then  in  turn  sweeping  down 
our  line  and  attacking  the  other  wing  after  defeating  us;  but  he  found 
all  the  fighting  he  wanted  on  the  left;  we  punished  him  so'  severely  that 
he  gave  up  the  job  before  he  got  through  with  us.  After  the  battle 
we  changed  front  a  little,  facing  towards  Decatur  and  proceeded  to  build 
breastworks,  working  through  the  night.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
just  before  this  that  General  Stoneman  and  McCook  had  been  sent 
with  a  large  cavalry  force  to  the  rear  of  Atlanta  to  cut  their  communi 
cations  and  if  successful  to  proceed  to  Macon  and  Andersonville  and 
liberate  our  prisoners  confined  there;  they  succeeded  in  destroying  the 
railroad,  but  farther  than  that  were  unsuccessful;  The  Confederate 
Generals  Wheeler  and  Iverson  with  the  combined  forces  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry  defeated  General  Stoneman,  taking  him  prisoner  with  the  larger 
portion  of  his  command.  McCook  got  away  with  a  portion  of  his 
command  with  the  loss  of  most  of  his  artillery,  but  badly  defeated 
and  demoralized.  The  remnants  of  the  cavalry  left  were  organized 
into  divisions  under  Kilpatrick  and  Garrard. 


REPORT   OF  GENERAL   G.   M.   DODGE. 

Hdqrs.  Left  Wing,  Sixteenth  Army  Corps, 
Near  .Atlanta,  Ga.,  August  11,  1864. 

Colonel:  I  have  the  honor  to  herewith  report  the  part  taken  by 
this  command  in  the  battle  in  front  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22,  1864: 

On  the  morning  of  the  22nd  my  troops  were  disposed  as  follows: 
One  division  (Second)  was  in  position  on  the  right  of  the  Army  of 


MAJ.  GEN.  G.  M.  DODGE. 


VFTERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  157 

the  Tennessee,  with  one  brigade  in  reserve.  The  First  Brigade,  of 
the  Fourth  Division,  was  in  reserve  near  the  left  of  the  army,  and  in 
rear  of  the  center  of  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  being  held  as  a 
reserve  to  the  left  flank  of  the  army.  The  Second  Brigade,  of  the 
Fourth  Division,  Col.  J.  W.  Sprague  commanding,  was  posted  at 
Decatur,  to  hold  that  place  and  cover  our  trains  during  the  absence 
of  the  cavalry.  At  daylight  the  pickets  in  front  of  Second  Division 
discovered  the  enemy  had  evacuated  works  in  our  front.  They 
pushed  on,  finding  the  enemy  in  his  works  surrounding  Atlanta. 
About  8  a.  m.  I  received  a  verbal  order  from  Major-General  McPher- 
son  to  move  the  Second  Division  from  the  right  to  the  extreme  left 
of  the  army,  and  mass  it  in  rear  of  the  new  position  to  be  selected 
for  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  and  to  place  one  brigade  of  the 
Fourth  Division  in  position  on  the  left  of  this  new  position.  The 
Second  Division  moved  promptly,  and  halted  about  half  a  mile  south 
of  the  railroad,  in  a  position  marked  A  on  the  map  on  the  road 
running  parallel  to  and  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  rear  of  the  posi 
tion  of  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps.  The  brigade  of  the  Fourth 
Division  had  not  yet  moved.  I  went  in  person  to  select  a  position 
for  this  brigade,  and  also  to  select  good  ground  to  mass  the  Second 
Division.  I  had  just  accomplished  this  when,  ascertaining  that  the 
Seventeenth  Army  Corps  would  not  move  into  its  new  position  until 
night,  I  sent  orders  for  the  Second  Division  to  bivouac  where  it  then 
was  and  await  orders.  I  also  ordered  Brig.  Gen.  J.  W.  Fuller,  com 
manding  Fourth  Division,  to  send  out  working  parties  to  intrench 
the  position  he  was  to  occupy.  About  12:00  m.,  while  at  General 
Fuller's  headquarters,  straggling  shots  were  heard  in  the  rear  of  the 
left  of  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  and  reports  came  in  that  the 
enemy  were  in  force  in  our  rear.  Brig.  Gen.  T.  W.  Sweeney,  com 
manding  Second  Division,  sent  out  skirmishers  in  that  direction, 
who  immediately  developed  the  fact  that  the  enemy  in  considerable 
force  was  in  the  timber  in  rear  of  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps. 
Hearing  the  shots,  I  immediately  sent  orders  to  the  Second  Division 
to  go  into  line  on  the  ground  it  then  occupied,  facing  east  and  south. 
At  the  same  time  I  ordered  General  Fuller  to  post  one  regiment  to 
cover  the  right  flank  of  the  Second  Division.  The  Second  Divison 
had  hardly  gone  into  position  when  it  was  discovered  that  C.e  enemy 
were  in  heavy  force  in  our  front.  General  Fuller  perceiving  this, 
ordered  out  his  entire  brigade  instead  of  one  regiment,  and  went 
into  position  on  the  right  of  the  Second  Division.  Two  batteries, 
H,  First  Missouri,  and  Fourteenth  Ohio  Battery,  were  posted  in  the 
center  of  the  Second  Division.  Scarcely  was  the  line  formed  when 
the  enemy  in  three  columns  emerged  from  the  timber  on  our  left, 


158  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

front,  and  right.  My  whole  line  immediately  became  hotly  engaged, 
and  the  fact  of  the  enemy  occupying  the  timber  between  me  and  the 
Seventeenth  Army  Corps  was  clearly  demonstrated.  I  saw  that  I 
could  not  prolong  my  line  to  connect  with  the  Seventeenth  Army 
Corps,  a  long  belt  of  timber  lying  between  my  right  and  its  line  of 
battle  that  faced  west.  I  sent  an  aide  to  General  Giles  A.  Smith, 
notifying  him  of  the  position  of  the  enemy,  and  requesting  that  he 
would  refuse  his  left  in  order  to  form  a  connection  with  my  right. 
Seeing  that  the  enemy  was  pressing  in  column  still  beyond  my  right 
and  far  down  the  line  of  the  Seventeenth  Corps  and  in  its  rear,  I 
sent  another  staff  officer  to  General  Smith,  who  found  him  hotly 
engaged  and  then  unable  to  connect.  The  enemy  pressed  forward 
in  my  front  and  left,  exposing  the  flank  of  his  center  column. 
Detecting  this,  I  at  once  pushed  forward  the  Twelfth  Illinois  and 
Eighty-first  Ohio,  which  caught  the  enemy  partly  in  flank.  Our 
fire  in  his  front  and  flank  was  so  destructive  that  he  soon  gave  way. 
A  charge  was  ordered,  and  his  two  columns  in  my  front  and  left 
were  broken  and  driven  back  to  the  timber.  General  Fuller  at  the 
same  time  ordered  a  charge  on  his  front,  which  was  gallantly  made, 
and  the  enemy  driven  from  it.  The  enemy  pressing  past  my  right 
in  the  timber  had  not  ere  this  been  fully  developed.  General  Ful 
ler's  advance  soon  drew  a  heavy  fire  on  his  right  flank.  He  promptly 
drew  back  the  regiments  that  had  charged,  changed  front  to  the  rear 
under  galling  fire,  and  moved  on  the  enemy  in  the  timber,  clear 
ing  that  point.  The  fighting  on  my  right,  or  rather  in  rear  of 
my  right,  continued  heavy,  and  I  immediately  made  preparations  to 
connect  as  near  as  possible  with  the  Seventeenth  Corps,  so  as  to 
bring  the  enemy  entirely  in  our  front.  Ascertaining  where  the  left 
of  the  Seventeenth  Corps  rested,  it  having  refused  its  line  in  order 
to  check  the  column  passing  in  its  rear,  my  right  was  swung 
around,  using  the  left  as  a  pivot,  until  my  command  occupied  a  line 
facing  a  little  west  of  south,  and  a  short  distance  to  the  rear  of  my 
first  line.  Temporary  intrenchments  were  immediately  thrown  up. 

Major-General  McPherson  fell  on  the  right  of  my  line  about  one 
hour  after  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  but  it  was  not  known  to 
me  for  some  time  after.  As  soon  as  I  ascertained  that  fact  I  sent  a 
stall  officer  to  Major-General  Logan  to  report  the  exposed  condition 
of  my  left,  and  request  that  troops  be  sent  there;  also  reporting  the 
gap  between  me  and  the  Seventeenth  Corps.  A  brigade,  Colonel 
Martin's,  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  was  immediately  sent  to  the  left, 
arriving  just  as  the  enemy  again  made  his  appearance  on  my  ex 
treme  left,  but  his  demonstration  was  weak  and  soon  repulsed.  Soon 
after,  I  should  judge  about  4  p.  m.,  Major-General  Logan  called  in 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  159 

person  for  aid  to  drive  the  enemy  back  on  the  main  Decatur  and 
Atlanta  road,  where  he  had  gained  a  temporary  advantage.  The 
Second  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Col.  August  Mersy,  commanding, 
was  immediately  sent,  Major-General  Logan  accompanying  it.  The 
brigade  immediately  went  into  line,  and  participated  in  the  charge 
that  retook  the  works  and  batteries,  and  gained  and  re-established 
our  lines.  As  the  brigade  operated  under  the  immediate  direction 
of  the  general  commanding  the  department,  and  detached  from  my 
command,  I  cannot  give  a  full  account  of  its  operations,  but  respect 
fully  refer  to  the  reports  of  brigade  and  regimental  commanders 
forwarded  herewith.  General  Logan  instructed  me,  if  I  needed  aid 
on  my  left,  after  weakening  it  by  detaching  this  brigade,  that  I 
should  call  on  General  Cox,  commanding  division  of  Twenty-third 
Corps,  who  was  near  me.  At  5  p.  m.  the  enemy  making  a  demon 
stration  on  my  extreme  left  caused,  me  to  request  General  Cox  to 
send  me  a  brigade,  which  he  promptly  did.  The  enemy,  however, 
only  opened  with  artillery.  At  12  o'clock  that  night  General  Logan 
ordered  two  regiments  of  Colonel  Mersy's  brigade  to  occupy  the 
hill  so  hotly  contested  for  in  front  of  the  Seventeenth  Corps,  and 
relieve  a  portion  of  the  troops  then  fighting.  They  promptly  obeyed 
the  order,  and  soon  securely  intrenched  themselves.  Colonel 
Sprague,  who  had  with  him  three  small  regiments  and  six  guns,  the 
Chicago  Board  of  Trade  Battery,  belonging  to  General  Garrard's 
division  of  cavalry,  which  had  reported  to  him,  and  one  section  of 
C  Battery,  First  Michigan  Artillery,  was  attacked  by  overwhelming 
numbers.  Two  divisions  of  Wheeler's  cavalry,  dismounted,  poured 
down  upon  him  from  three  directions.  Colonel  Sprague  immedi 
ately  concentrated  his  command,  and,  by  determined,  unyielding 
fighting,  held  the  enemy  in  check  and  gained  a  position  north  of  the 
town,  which  he  was  able  to  hold.  By  so  doing  he  saved  the  trains  of 
the  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth,  and  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  then  on  the 
road  from  Roswell  to  the  commands. 

Great  credit  is  due  Colonel  (now  General)  Sprague  and  his  bri 
gade  for  their  conduct  on  this  occasion.  We  were,  no  doubt,  saved  a 
serious  disaster  by  his  cool  judgment  and  excellent  dispositions.  The 
Ninth  Illinois  Infantry  (mounted)  and  Forty-third  Ohio  Infantry 
joined  him  during  the  engagement  and  promptly  went  into  action. 

Light  Battery  F,  Second  U.  S.  Artillery,  belonging  to  the  Fourth 
Division,  had  reported  the  day  before  to  the  Seventeenth  Army 
Corps,  and  was  placed  in  posion  on  the  front  line.  Soon  after  the 
commencement  of  the  fight  it  was  ordered  to  return  and  take  a  posi 
tion  on  the  right,  of  my  line,  covering  as  well  as  possible  the  space 
between  the  Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth  Army  Corps.  The  battery 


160  HISTORY   OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

was  on  its  way  to  comply  with  the  order,  when  the  enemy,  in  press 
ing  through  the  gap,  struck  it  and  captured  the  guns,  most  of  the 
men  escaping.  The  battery  had  no  opportunity  to  save  itself,  being 
on  a  road  in  the  timber,  in  the  rear  of  the  Seventeenth  Corps,  and 
in  a  place,  which,  under  most  circumstances,  would  be  considered 
perfectly  safe.  Its  position  when  captured  is  marked.  I  cannot  con 
sider  any  one  at  fault  or  to  blame  for  its  loss. 

I  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  the  conduct  of  both  officers  and  men 
during  the  engagement.  It  was  a  critical  moment  for  our  army, 
and  any  failure  on  our  part  to  have  checked  the  advance  of  the  en 
emy  in  our  rear  would  have  proved  fatal.  With  three  brigades  dis 
posed  in  a  single  line,  numbering  some  4,500  men,  over  one-half  of 
Hardee's  corps,  viz.,  Walker's,  Bate's,  and  a  portion  of  Cleburne's 
divisions,  was  met,  and  driven  back  with  great  slaughter,  leaving 
their  dead  and  severely  wounded  on  the  field. 

During  the  engagement  on  my  front,  prisoners  were  taken  from 
49  different  regiments,  8  brigades,  and  3  divisions;  351  prisoners 
were  captured,  not  including  those  taken  by  Colonel  Mersy's  bri 
gade  on  the  line  of  the  Pfteenth  Corps,  8  battle-flags,  and  some  1,300 
muskets  were  captured  and  turned  over;  422  of  the  enemy's  dead 
were  buried  in  my  front. 

Where  all  did  so  well  it  is  impossible  to  particularize.  General 
Fuller  had  a  critical  position,  and  handled  his  command  with  great 
skill  and  good  judgment.  The  brigade  commanders,  Colonels  Rice, 
Mersy,  Morrill,  and  Sprague,  were  ever  where  duty  demanded,  and 
by  their  personal  presence  and  exertion  gave  their  officers  and  men 
that  advice  and  encouragement  .  that  enabled  them  to  so  well  and 
bravely  hold  their  lines. 

Battery  H,  First  Missouri  Artillery,  and  the  Fourteenth  Ohio 
Battery,  massed  in  the  center  of  the  Second  Division,  by  holding  fast 
and  working  their  guns;  even  when  the  enemy  were  150  feet  dis 
tant,  and  pouring  upon  them  a  terrible  fire,  aided  effectively  in 
driving  back  his  advancing  columns,  more  especially  Bate's  division, 
upon  which  they  had  a  direct  and  point-blank  range. 

To  Lieut.  Col.  J.  J.  Phillips,  Ninth  Illinois,  who  was  temporarily 
serving  on  ,my  staff,  I  am  greatly  indebted;  his  clear  and  quick 
conception  of  the  situation  enabled  him  to  render  me  invaluable 
service,  and  I  commend  him  to  the  attention  of  the  commanding 
general. 

I  also  desire  to  call  attention  to  the  efficient  service  of  Lieut.  Col. 
William  T.  Clark,  assistant  adjutant-general  of  the  department.  I 
noticed  him,  particularly  after  the  fall  of  Major-General  McPher- 
son,  giving  that  aid  and  direction  the  situation  required. 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  161 

My  staff  were  prompt,  energetic,  and  active  in  rendering  me  that 
/aluable  and  cheerful  aid  that  enables -a  commander  to  successfully 
carry  through  an  engagement. 

In  our  victory,  all  that  gladness  and  joy  that  would  otherwise 
have  been  experienced,  was  lost  to  us  in  the  fall  of  our  brave  and 
efficient  commander.  This  corps  has  served  under  him  throughout 
the  entire  campaign,  and  that  he  was  greatly  beloved  and  respected 
by  all  was  evident  by  the  sorrow  and  gloom  cast  over  us  by  the  knowl 
edge  of  his  death.  No  one  knew  him  but  to  love  and  respect  him. 
His  name  and  memory  in  this  army  is  imperishable. 

I  take  great  pleasure  in  calling  the  attention  of  the  general  to  the 
accompanying  reports  of  division,  brigade,  regimental,  and  battery 
commanders,  and  to  the  special  mention  made  therein  of  officers 
and  men.  I  trust  full  justice  may  be  done  them. 

I  am,  colonel,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

G.  M.  DODGE, 
Major-General,  Commanding. 


July  23rd.  Worked  on  breastworks,  two  companies  sent  out  on 
picket,  Co.  "P"  and  another  cojnpany,  in  charge  of  Lieut.  Folsom.  Ad 
vanced  the  une  occupying  the  ground  held  by  the  rebels  the  night 
before;  found  some  of  the  rebel  wounded  in  the  woods  whom  they  had 
not  yet  removed,  among  which  was  a  major  who  was  mortally  wound 
ed;  he  evidently  was  out  of  his  mind,  as  he  cursed  us  when  we  helped 
him  to  the  rear  where  he  could  get  assistance  from  the  surgeons;  the 
doctors  said  there  was  no  hope  for  him,  gave  him  something  to  al 
leviate  his  distress  and  he  died  that  day. 

24th.  Pickets  were  formed  into  skirmishers  and  ordered  to  ad 
vance  the  lines  up  the  hill  and  through,  the  timber;  soon  found  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  who  gave  ground  on  our  approach.  T.  E.  Rollins 
of  company  "B"  found  a  Johnnie  behind  a  log  he  was  stepping  over, 
he  jumped  up  and  both  fired  at  the  same  time;  the  rebel  shot  Rollins 
through  the  foot  and  Rollins  missed  him  entirely  but  he  took  him 
prisoner;  while  questioning  and  parleying  with  him  we  heard  some 
one  calling,  "Valentine!  Valentine!"  We  asked  him  who  it  was  and  he 
said  it  was  his  comrade  who  had  gone  back  to  the  reserve  to  get 
something  to  eat  for  them;  we  made  him  answer  the  call  and  tell  him 
to  come  on,  when  two  of  their  pickets  came  up  out  of  a  ravine  and 
we  took  them  prisoners.  Rollins  in  the  meantime  was  sitting  down 
crying  because  he  had  missed  the  Johnnie  and  cursing  him  because  he 
had  shot  him  through  the  foot. 

General  O.  O.  Howard  assumed  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 


162  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

nessee  and  General  Logan  went  back  to  command  of  the  15th  Corps. 
General  Hooker  took  umbrage  because  he  was  not  given  the  posi 
tion  and  asked  to  be  relieved  from  command  of  the  20th  Corps,  which 
was  granted  and  he  went  home  or  to  the  east. 

25th.  Ordered  not  to  leave  the  ranks;  expecting  attack.  General 
Dodge,  Fuller  and  Sweeney  had  trouble  and  dispute;  Sweeney  and 
Fuller  coming  to  blows  in  rear  of  our  regiment.  General  Sherman  or 
dered  Sweeney  under  arrest,  sent  him  to  the  rear  and  deprived  him 
of  his  command,  placing  Colonel  Rice  temporarily  in  command  of  the 
division.  Sweeney  was  not  reinstated  again  during  the  war.  Next  day 
Brigadier  General  John  M.  Corse  was  assigned  to  command  the  2nd 
division  and  Colonel  Rice  to  the  command  of  the  Brigade. 

26th.  Aroused  at  daylight;  ordered  to  remain  in  works;  expect 
ing  attack;  rockets  as  signals  fired  during  the  night,  for  some  purpose 
not  understood  by  men  and  subordinate  officers. 

27th.  At  midnight  last  night  withdrew  from  our  works  to  the 
right  and  rear,  passing  in  rear  of  4th  corps  where  we  halted  to  get  some 
thing  to  eat;  at  5  o'clock  p.  m.  went  to  the  front  through  the 
works  of  the  14th  corps;  threw  out  skirmishers  forming  brigade  in  two 
columns  and  proceeded  to  advance  the  lines;  during  these  movements  a 
heavy  shower  came  up,  raining  hard  for  a  time.  All  things  in  readi 
ness  for  the  advance,  the  bugle  sounded,  when  the  command  moved 
forward  in  fine  order,  good  alignment  with  banners  flying,  making 
a  magnificent  sight  to  behold;  skirmishers  soon  became  engaged,  but 
the  enemy  gave  away  before  the  supports  came  up;  we  continued  to  ad 
vance  until  we  reached  the  position  desired  to  be  entrenched;  we  came 
upon  a  crest  overlooking  the  city  of  Atlanta  where  we  placed  battery 
"H"  1st  Missouri  Light  Artillery.  Marched  and  advanced  through  the 
day  15  miles 

28th.  The  15th  and  17th  A.  C.  extended  their  line  to  the  right, 
during  which  time  the  enemy  made  a  fierce  and  determined  attack  on 
the  15th  corps,  making  four  distinct  and  desperate  charges  on  General 
Logan's  front;  called  for  reinforcements  and  more  ammunition,  when 
General  Dodge  sent  him  four  regiments  from  our  division  and  two 
wagon  loads  of  cartridges,  the  latter  under  guard  of  Lieut.  H.  I.  Smith 
in  command  of  company  "I"  of  the  7th  Iowa,  which  was  promptly  de 
livered.  General  Logan  succeeded  in  repelling  the  attack  and  holding 
and  fortifying  his  position,  but  at  a  large  sacrifice  of  killed  and  wound 
ed.  This  is  known  as  the  battle  of  Ezra  Church.  General  Logan's  loss 
in  this  affair  was  reported  to  be  562  killed  ,  wounded  and  missing.  He 
reported  burying  600  dead  of  the  enemy  in  his  front  the  next  day,  and 
that  he  captured  five  battle  flags,  2,000  stand  of  arms,  and  106  prisoners. 
During  the  night  he  built  strong  defensive  works.  Our  division  was 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  163 

subjected  to  heavy  artillery  fire  during  this  engagement,  in  order  as  we 
supposed  to  divert  our  attention  and  keep  us  from  going  to  the  assist 
ance  of  the  right  of  the  army,  where  they  were  making  such  fierce 
and  determined  assault.  If  they  had  succeeded  in  crushing  Logan 
they  would  have  probably  taken  us  in  flank  and  turn;  but  they  found 
their  match  in  the  15th  corps  under  General  Logan. 

After  the  battle  of  Atlanta,  Lieut.  Lazenbee,  the  only  commis 
sioned  officer  present  of  Co.  "I"  was  taken  sick;  as  Co.  "B"  had  two 
officers  present  for  duty.  1st  Lieut.  H.  I.  Smith  was  transferred  to  Co. 
"I"  to  command.  Soon  afterwards  Co.  "D"  lost  their  only  commissioned 
officer,  when  Lieut.  Smith  was  given  that  Co.  also,  both  of  which  com 
panies  he  commanded  a  portion  of  the  time  during  the  balance  of  the 
Atlanta  campaign;  taking  company  "I"  through  the  march  to  the  sea, 
when  he  was  detailed  as  Aid-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  General  E.  W. 
Rice,  with  whom  he  staid  until  the  war  was  over  and  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service. 

29th.  Skirmishing  all  day  returning  to  the  reserve  in  the  even 
ing.  No  casualities  in  our  regiment.  30th.  The  enemy  open  upon 
LI s  with  their  big  guns  from  their  forts.  We  hug  the  bottom  of  the 
ditches  behind  our  works,  hold  our  ground  with  little  loss.  31st.  It 
rained  hard  during  the  day;  the  rebels  kept  up  their  fire  upon  us 
from  the  fort,  keeping  us  in  the  trenches  which  were  partly  filled  with 
water  from  the  rain;  we  were  wet,  cold  and  uncomfortable  all  day. 
One  large  84  pound  shell  went  over  us,  to  the  rear  striking  General 
Dodge's  headquarter  tent,  smashing  his  cook  tent  and  outfit,  cutting 
short  their  repast,  and  killing  some  horses  tied  to  trees  near  the 
General's  headquarters.  Heavy  details  made  to  strengthen  the  works. 
August  1st.  The  non-veterans  whose  time  expired  on  the  24th 
ultimo  were  allowed  to  go  home;  great  credit  should  be  given  them  for 
staying,  fighting  and  doing  duty  for  a  week  after  their  time  was  out, 
when  they  could  not  have  been  compelled  to  do  so. 

The  rebels  continued  to  shell  us  at  intervals  from  the  forts  all 
through  the  day,  doing  little  damage  only  to  make  us  hug  the  bottom 
of  the  wet  ditches  while  they  do  so.  It  seemed  to  annoy  them  to  see 
us  strengthening  our  works  and  putting  up  obstructions;  whenever 
the  working  parties  appeared  they  would  open  up  with  their  heavy  ar 
tillery  from  the  forts.  The  boys'  call  their  bomb  'shells  camp  kettles, 
as  they  arc  about  as  large.  In  the  evening  when  our  company  nigger 
cook  was  bringing  our  coffee  from  the  reserve  line  to  the  skirmish 
pits  in  front  where  we  were,  the  rebels  opened  up  on  us,  one  of  the  big 
shells  struck  near  him,  making  a  hole  in  the  earth  like  a  cellar,  it 
scared  him  so  that  he  spilled  our  coffee,  when  he  got  in  the  hole  and 
laid  there.  Some  of  the  boys  thinking  he  was  killed  went  back  to  see 


164  HISTORY   OF  THE   SEVKNTH   IOWA 

what  had  become  of  him.  He  was  lying  in  the  bottom  of  the  hole 
and  said  that  lightning  never  struck  twice  in  the  same  place  and  he 
thought  the  same  rule  applied  to  cannon  balls,  so  laid  there  as  being  the 
safest  place. 

Aug.  2nd.  Weather  cloudy  and  cool;  heavy  cannonading  on  both 
sides  today,  especially  to  the  left  of  us;  army  seems  to  be  extending 
our  lines  to  our  right  and  withdrawing  from  the  left;  23rd  Corps  pass 
ing  to  right  and  rear  all  day.  Rations  short  and  poor.  Have  slept  in 
our  clothes  since  the  first  of  June,  with  very  little  time  or  opportunity 
to  wash  and  keep  ourselves  or  clothes  clean;  it  was  a  long  arduous 
campaign  with  fighting  without  cessation  all  summer.  3rd.  Weather 
changeable  and  showery;  fighting  and  cannonading  all  along  the  line, 
still  extending  our  lines  to  the  right,  apparently  to  get  possession  of 
the  Macon  railroad  and  cut  off  their  supplies.  4th.  Quiet  in  the  fore 
noon.  Ordered  into  line  under  arms  at  2:30  p.  m.  Drove  the  enemy 
back  into  their  works,  while  our  batteries  were  shelling  them.  They 
rallied,  came  back  at  us  in  force  and  we  retire  behind  our  works,  quit 
and  call  it  a  draw;  heavy  cannonading  from  the  enemy's  forts  all 
afternoon.  Wild  shooting,  lots  of  noise,  but  not  much  loss,  apparently 
barren  of  results.  Men  ordered  to  keep  their  accoutrements  on  with 
guns  by  their  side  and  not  to  leave  the  ranks,  evidently  expecting 
an  attack,  or  an  advance  to  be  ordered.  5th.  In  line  of  battle  behind 
our  works.  After  dark  our  skirmishers  crawled  quietly  up  nearer  the 
enemy's  lines,  dug  skirmish  pits,  surprising  the  Johnnies  in  the  morn 
ing.  They  opened  up  a  fusilade  of  musketry  on  our  men  in  the  skir 
mish  pits  and  bombarded  them  from  their  forts  but  could  not  drive 
them  out.  6th.  Kept  up  all  night  by  continuous  firing  from  the 
enemy's  lines  and  working  strengthening  our  advance  lines  gained 
yesterday.  Rebels  made  a  desperate  attack  on  the  20th  Corps  to  our 
left,  also  on  the  4th  Corps;  they  gained  our  works,  but  were  repulsed 
and  driven  back  with  heavy  loss.  They  seem  determined  to  hold 
their  ground  and  Atlanta;  they  have  strengthened  their  works  and 
put  out  formidable  obstructions  in  our  front.  In  the  declivity  interven 
ing  there  is  Chev-aux-de-friz,  tru-de-loupes  and  pit  falls,  with  wires 
stretched  in  the  grass  to  trip  charging  troops,  all  of  whicn  would  have 
to  be  removed  before  the  works  could  be  taken  by  assault.  7th.  Rath 
er  quiet  all  day,  men  busy  strengthening  breastworks.  Some  fighting 
going  on  to  our  right.  8th.  Whole  regiment  ordered  into  the  skirmish 
pits,  which  duty  comes  on  every  two  or  three  days,  as  nearly  half  the 
force  occupy  the  advance  line  of  works.  Men  are  getting  almost  de 
formed  humping  to  keep  their  heads  down  to  keep  from  exposing 
themselves  from  the  enemy's  sharpshooters.  Rained  again  making 
the  pits  wet,  muddy-  and  disagreeable;  no  opportunity  to  lie  down 


BREVT.  MAJ.  GEN.  ELLIOTT  W.  RICE. 


VFTIRAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  165 

day  or  night.  9th.  Strengthening  our  works;  when  dark  crawl  nois- 
lessly  and  cautiously  close  up  under  the  enemy's  works  with  entrench 
ing  tools  and  dig  rifle  pits  which  surprises  and  annoys  the  rebels  to 
find  us  in  such  close  proximity  to  them  when  daylight  appea'rs;  they 
open  on  us  with  a  fusilade,  but  our  boys  hug  the  bottom  of  the 
ditches,  holding  their  ground  waiting  for  them  to  come  out,  or  show 
themselves  when  they  return  the  fire,  and  so  it  goes  from  day  to  day, 
keeping  up  a  constant  strain  of  mind,  muscle  and  anxiety  to  keep 
out  of  the  way  of  murderous  missies  with  which  the  air  is  constantly 
full.  We  lose  men  from  day  to  day,  which  in  the  aggregate  amounts 
to  a  considerable  loss.  It  seems  to  be  the  policy  to  take  Atlanta  by 
regular  siege  and  approaches.  32-pound  Rodman  rifle  siege  guns 
placed  in  position  to  the  left  of  our  regiment  in  redans  built  for  that 
purpose;  after  getting  them  in  position  they  are  fired  at  regular  in 
tervals  into  the  city  in  plain  view.  We  can  see  the  destruction  made 
by  them  around  the  railroad  shops  and  depots,  a  mile  or  so  distant. 
Rain,  rain,  rain.  10th.  Lieut.  Spaulding's  dairy  reads:  "Before  day 
light  the  line  beliind  us  was  under  arms  waiting  for  whatever  turned 
up.  Weather  cloudy  and  misty.  Could  see  our  men  in  front  throwing 
dirt.  Private  Walling  wounded  this  morning  while  sleeping.  Men 
have  to  seek  cover  continuously,  away  from  the  protection  of  the 
works  no  one  is  safe  any  moment.  At  11  a.  m.  the  regiment,  except 
the  skirmishers,  was  moved  to  the  left  to  occupy  the  works  of  the 
2nd  Iowa;  12th  Ills,  sent  to  occupy  tne  works  vacated  by  us;  as  the 
works  taken  possession  by  us  were  not  in  good  condition,  the  men  set 
to  work  again  to  strengthen  them.  The  men  didn't  like  this  much  and 
were  disposed  to  complain  as  being  not  fair  treatment;  still  they 
went  to  work  again,  with  spirit  and  energy,  although  they  were  nearly 
played  out,  on  account  of  loss  of  sleep  and  exposure  and  hard  work. 
They  were  stimulated  by  the  enemy  who  threw  into  the  works  a  few 
shells;  the  boys  felt  it  but  to  render  their  cover  more  secure.  About  2 
o'clock,  having  occasion  to  go  to  the  rear,  left  the  skirmish  line; 
Capt.  Kurd  being  in  command  of  the  company.  On  my  return,  on  the 
way,  the  shelling  by  the  enemy  began  and  was  promptly  replied  to 
by  battery  "H."  The  shells  went  screaming  overhead — no  danger  to 
me  at  first;  but  as  I  got  near  the  front  line  the  problem  was,  how  to 
get  into  the  works  without  getting  hurt;  as  I  got  within  about  200 
yards  of  our  line,  the  enemy  seemed  to  let  up  somewhat  and  I  concluded 
to  keep  on  and  take  the  chances.  A  darky  cook  was  a  rod  or  so  ahead 
of  me  with  a  camp  kettle  in  each  hand  and  one  balanced  on  his  head, 
all  full  of  water.  He  having  been  to  the  spring.  We  kept  on,  he  keep 
ing  the  same  distance  in  front  of  me  until  he  was  just  opposite  the 
end  of  the  ditch  in  front  of  the  opening  through  the  breastworks,  when 
a  big  shell  came  screeching  along,  and  the  darkey  without  stopping  to 


165  HISTORY    OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

let  down  his  kettles,  dove  into  the  diich  head  first,  landing  on  his  back. 
My  hair  raised  a  little,  for  the  shell  was  close,  but  there  was  little  use 
diving  into  the  ditch,  as  the  shell  was  past  before  we  started.  He  got 
out  looking  sort  of  foolish  to  see  what  had  come  of  the  shell.  The 
boys  saw  his  performance  and  began  yelling  at  him  and  giving  him 
advice  as  only  soldiers  can  do.  Got  in  and  returned  to  the  skirmish 
line  safely,  but  lucky  enough  not  to  get  hit  by  any  of  the  bullets  fly 
ing  so  continuously.  About  4  o'clock  we  were  moved  again  into  the 
works  to  the  right  of  the  fort;  the  81st  Ohio  taking  possession  of  the 
works  vacated  by  us.  Just  before  we  on  the  skirmish  line  were  re 
lieved,  private  Wm.  Dorman  of  Co.  "C"  was  badly  wounded.  Relieved 
about  6  o'clock  p.  m.  and  went  to  the  rear,  without  further  loss.  Back 
in  this  line  we  have  a  prospect  for  a  good  night's  rest  and  sleep."  This 
is  a  fair  sample  of  the  daily  routine  of  duty  for  weeks  during  the 
siege  of  Atlanta. 

August  llth.  7th  Iowa  occupied  front  line  of  rifle  pits.  66th 
Ills.  Sharpshooters  ordered  out  to  drive  back  the  rebel  skirmishers, 
66th  Indiana  in  support.  Enemy  offered  feeble  resistance;  the  advance 
resulted  in  wresting  from  the  enemy  the  ridge  in  front  of  the  16th  corps. 
The  reserves  quickly  threw  up  temporary  works,  under  rapid  tiring 
from  the  artillery  of  the  enemy;  several  killed  by  shells  in  66th  Ind. 
and  a  number  wounded  in  2nd  and  7th  Iowa,  and  two  wounded  in 
52nd  Ills.  Regiment  relieved  by  52nd  Ills,  in  the  evening.  Works 
strengthened  during  the  night  and  obstructions  In  the  way  of  abattis, 
etc.,  built  in  front.  The  enemy  kept  up  brisk  cannonading  all  night 
with  their  heavy  guns,  but  did  not  succeed  in  shelling  us  out,  we  hold 
ing  the  ground  gained  during  the  day.  Ordered  under  arms,  expect 
ing  attack.  Hugh  \oung  Co.  "I"  wounded. 

August  12th.  7th  Iowa  occupy  front  line  of  works,  with  compan 
ies  "I"  and  "D"  in  the  skirmish  pits  in  front,  under  command  of  Lieut. 
H.  I.  Smith  of  Co.  "B."  Sharp  skirmishing  and  artillery  duel  by  both 
the  enemy's  and  our  own  batteries  all  day.  When  our  battery  fires 
we  have  to  lay  low  to  allow  our  guns  to  fire  over  our  heads,  as  they 
have  to  depress  their  pieces  just  so  that  their  balls  will  clear  our 
works  and  they  do  not  always  do  that."  Battery  "H"  is  immediately 
in  our  rear  about  thirty  rods,  ground  about  level  behind  us.  In  the 
evening  while  sitting  in  the  bottom  of  the  ditch,  with  faces  towards 
our  own  battery  while  they  were  in  action,  Sergeant  Thomas  of  Co. 
"D"  and  the  writer  were  sitting  side  by  side,  both  drinking  our  coffee 
out  of  the  same  cup;  when  a  ten  pound  Parrott  shell  blew  Sergt.  Thom 
as'  head  completely  off,  scattering  his  brains  all  over  my  shoulder,  leav 
ing  his  upper  lip  and  mustasche  in  the  bank  behind  me; the  cup  we  were 
drinking  from  was  filled  with  his  brains  and  blood,  doing  no  damage 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  167 

to  me  but  destroying  my  supper  and  filling  me  with  sorrow  for  my 
comrade;  but  such  things  were  of  such  frequent  occurrence  that  we 
became  hardened  and  accustomed  to  them. 

As  there  is  an  interim,  or  missing  link  in  the  diary  kept  of  the 
movements  of  our  regiment,  I  herewith  substitute  a  part  of  diary  kept 
by  Lieut.  E.  B.  Spaulding  of  the  52nd  Illinois,  that  regiment  being 
in  our  brigade  and  relieving  and  alternating  duty  with  us  almost  every 
day  until  the  close  of  the  war;  so  that  the  daily  doings  of  that  regi 
ment  is  almost  a  duplicate  of  the  routine  of  our  own.  Lieut.  Spalding's 
diary  enters  into  details  minutely  and  I  am  sure  will  be  read  with 
interest. 

August  12th,  1864.  In  compliance  with  orders  the  regiment  was 
up  at  daylight  and  under  arms  in  line  and  it  stood  for  an  hour,  ready 
for  the  enemy,  if  they  should  wish  to  make  a  morning  call.  Weather 
foggy,  but  little  shooting  on  our  skirmish  line.  Anticipate  a  stormy 
day  when  the  fog  clears  away,  as  it  is  understood  that  our  artillery 
has  orders  to  open  fire.  In  such  event  it  will  bring  our  company  be 
tween  two  fires.  Battery  "H"  will  fire  directly  on  our  heads  and  the 
enemy's  return  fire  at  the  Battery  will  also  be  on  us,  or  rather  at  us. 
Private  Henry  Sprague  of  Co.  B  was  shot  dead  early  this  morning.  He 
was  standing  just  outside  of  the  trench  a  short  distance  to  the  rear 
when  a  bullet  struck  him  in  the  head,  and  with  a  groan  the  poor  boy 
fell  dead.  Soon  after  this  a  man  of  the  66th  Ind.,  as  he  was  getting  over 
our  breastwork  to  return,  to  the  skirmish  line  was  seriously  wounded 
in  the  arm.  About  9  o'clock  a.  m.  it  was  announced  that  Battery  "H" 
was  going  to  open  fire  with  its  six  12  Ib.  Brass  Napoleans.  Lieut. 
Blodgett  of  the  39th  Iowa  infantry,  who  is  in  command  of  the  bat 
tery,  when  all  was  ready  went  four  or  five  rods  to  the  right  of  the 
battery  and  getting  up  on  the  breastwork  took  a  position  behind  a 
tree  that  was  there  and  leveling  his  field  glass  to  watch  the  aim  of 
his  gunners,  called  for  No.  1  to  fire,  and  bang  roared  the  gun.  Blod 
gett  watched  for  shell  to  strike  and  directed  the  gunner  how  to  cor 
rect  his  aim;  then  Blodgett  called  for  number  2  and  watching  its  shot 
corrected  its  gunner,  and  he  did  so  with  each  gun  and  had  each  gun 
fire  twice  in  that  way,  and  then  he  jumped  down  and  called  to  his 
men  to  fire  and  to  us  fellows  in  the  ditch  in  front  of  the  battery  it 
seemed  that  "hell  had  broken  loose."  The  guns  being  so  they  would 
just  clear  the  ground,  when  they  now  first  fired  they  just  swept  the 
surface  of  everything  movable — dirt  in  dust  and  chunks,  leaves  and 
sticks  came  whirling  in  upon  us  along  with  bits  of  broken  tin,  from 
the  tin  straps  on  the  ammunition — many  of  us  got  cut  from  time  to 
time  by  this  tin.  At  the  second  discharge  a  stick  about  the  size  of  a 
walking  cane  came  whirling  into  our  ditch  and  striking  the  bank  just 


Iftg  HISTORY    OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

above  my  head  as  I  sat  leaning  forward,  bounded  back  and  hit  me  a 
smart  blow  across  the  back— thought  first  a  musket  had  fallen  upon  me. 
Blodgett's  first  gun  waked  up  the  enemy  and  they  opened  on  him  with 
siege  guns  from  their  forts,  one  directly  in  front  that  he  fired  at  and 
one  on  either  side.     Blodgett  gave  no  heed  to  either  of  the  side  forts. 
They  were  all  pounding  away  at  him  and  us  by  the  time  he  had  got 
his  range,  and  when  the  six  guns  of  Battery  "H"  all  began  talking  the 
uproar  was  simply  terrific  for  us  fellows  in  the  ditch.     It  seemed  as 
if  the  concussion  every  time  the  guns  fired  was  more  than  we  could 
stand.    I  put  my  fingers  in  my  ears  and  got  under  the  protection  of  the 
bank  as  much  as  possible.    At  first  it  seemed  to  be  an  unequal  contest, 
but  after  thirty  minutes  the  guns  in  the  fort  opposite  were  silenced. 
Blodgett  could  fire  a  dozen  shells  to  their  one — slow  work  handling 
heavy  siege  guns.     He  just  poured  the  shell  into  them;  with  the  aid  of 
glasses  we  could   see  the  fort  in   a  damaged  condition   and  one  gun 
dismounted,  the  others  drawn  back.     Then  Blodgett  got  up  behind  his 
tree  and  began  some  tactics  on  the  right  fort  and  he  silenced  it,  and 
getting  up  again  he  went  for  the  fort  to  the  left  and  silenced  it.     At 
a  range  of  a  mile,  as  these  were  heavy  guns  and  no  match  for  well 
served   field  guns,   although  the  enemy   did  their  best  no  doubt,  and 
their  big  shells  flew  and. struck  in  front  of  us  and  around  us  and  behind 
us  and  exploding,  neither  we  in  the  trench  nor  the  battery  had  a  man 
hurt  by  them.     However,  Private  Eli  Clemens  of  Co.  "C,"  next  to  Co. 
"E,"  was  seriously  wounded  in  the  ankle  by  a  gravel  stone  thrown  from 
embrasure  in  our  fort  by  one  of  Battery'  "H"  guns.     Our  position  is  a 
bad   one — the   ground   is   clear  or   open   and   of   such   foundation  that 
there  is  safety  for  no  one  outside  of  the  trenches.    The  enemy's  strong 
rifle   pits — a  breastwork — is   only   about  one  hundred   and   fifty   yards 
from  our  skirmish  line,  which  is  behind  a  strong  breastwork,  and  the 
firing  is  continual  day  and  night.    To-day  Lieut.  Col.  Bowen  was  struck 
in  the  shoulder  by  a  spent  bullet,  hit  him  a  glancing  blow  so  he  escaped 
injury. 

August  13th,  1864.  To-day  I  went  back  to  the  line  the  52nd 
first  occupied  to  make  up  muster  and  pay  rolls  for  June  30th.  This 
was  the  first  opportunity  lor  making  them  since  that  date.  Began 
making  them  several  days  since,  but  only  just  completed,  them  and 
turned  them  over  to  Lieut.  Col.  Bowen.  About  9  o'clock  a.  m.  the 
"Johnnies"  sent  a  big  shell  whizzing  over  our  heads.  It  is  now  our 
shell  as  they  are  done  with  it.  This  was  only  the  first.  Our  guns 
opened  immediately.  For  thirty  minutes  tne  duel  continued  and  for 
us  between  the  two  fires  and  in  front  of  our  guns  the  uproar  was 
terrific.  The  enemy  ceased  first.  Their  aim  is  not  as  accurate  as  yes- 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  109 

terday.  They  are  becoming  demoralized.  Our  artillery  is  too  much 
for  them.  One  solid  shot  or  shell  that  didn't  explode  struck  our 
breastwork,  but  did  no  damage.  However,  we  in  the  trench  couldn't 
tell  what  moment  one  would  hit  so  as  to  lift  things,  ourselves  in 
cluded.  Put  cotton  in  my  ears  to  relieve  them  as  much  as  possible  from 
concussion.  Great  danger  of  being  made  permanently  deaf.  During 
the  day  Private  A.  M.  Barnard  Co.  "I"  wounded  in  the  head  by  mus 
ket  ball — not  serious.  Go's.  "G,"  "I"  and  "K"  sent  out  to  the  skir 
mish  line  about  six  p.  m.  and  relieved  7th  Iowa.  About  7  p.  m.  I 
was  ordered  to  report  at  brigade  headquarters  for  duty.  Reported  and 
was  put  in  command  of  a  detail  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  to  work 
all  night  in  building  a  fort  just  to  the  left  of  the  52nd  on  a  rise  of 
ground  overlooking  the  enemy's  lines  and  the  city.  The  fort  is  to  be 
for  a  32  Ib.  Rodman.  Men  could  only  work  on  the  fort  under  cover  of 
darkness  because  the  ground  is  in  easy  and  in  clear  range  of  the  enemy's 
musket  fire;  cautioned  the  men  against  any  laughing, talking, or  making 
any  noise.  Marched  the  detail  after  dark  to  the  ground  and  began 
throwing  dirt,  and  the  bank  of  dirt  began  to  grow  until  10: 00  o'clock. 
While  standing  up  on  -top  of  the  bank  showing  the  men  where  to  throw 
the  dirt,  a  bullet  clipped  my  hat.  The  enemy  had  become  suspicious 
of  something  as  going  on  and  opened  fire  in  our  direction,  but  I 
chanced  their  bullets  until  one  hit  my  hat — this  I  took  as  a  hint  to 
get  down,  and  at  once  did  so.  In  digging  the  men  struck  rock  down 
about  a  foot  from  the  surface,  and  it  was  the  noise  of  shovels  hitting 
stones  that  the  enemy  heard. 

August  14th,  1864.  Worked  my  men  by  reliefs  all  night — no  re 
lief  for  me,  however.  When  we  began  we  expected  to  have  the  fort 
done— all  completed  before  daylight  this  morning,  but  the  rock  we 
struck,  boulders  and  large  stones,  seriously  interfered.  Hadn't  got 
the  fort  done  when  daylight  came,  but  the  work  was  far  enough  ad 
vanced  to  use.  The  32  Ib.  Rodman  was  brought  up  and  placed  in  posi 
tion  during  the  day.  I  with  my  men  was  relieved  at  daylight.  A 
few  shots  were  fired  from  the  Rodman  when  the  trail  broke — couldn't 
fire  any  more  until  trail  is  repaired.  Continuous  fire  on  skirmish  line. 
Blodgett  occasionally  pays  his  complements  to  the  "Johnnies"  by  toss 
ing  them  a  12  Ib.  shell,  to  which  they  make  no  reply.  Guess  they  are 
willing  to  let  their  artillery  remain  idle,  if  ours  will  only  keep  quiet, 
for  every  shell  they  send  us  they  get  ten  in  return,  and  our  artillery 
fire,  as  can  be  seen,  is  much  more  effective  than  theirs,  although  the 
enemy's  works  are  in  plain  view,  but  very  few  of  the  "Johnnies"  can 
be  seen.  The  great  number  of  our  musket  balls  flying  over  their  way 
and  to  them  the  uncertain  destination  of  our  shells  compel  the 
"Johnnies"  to  lie  low  for  safety  and  protection.  Musket  balls  cause 


170  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

us  more  more  concern  than  shells.  These  missies  of  death  are  con 
tinually  whizzing  over  and  past  us — grazing  the  top  of  our  breastwork, 
striking  the  ground.  When  a  man  gets  out  of  the  trench  and  goes 
to  the  rear  he  takes  his  life  in  his  hands.  There  is  no  safety  out  of 
the  ditch.  Men  been  working  to-day  to  complete  the  fort.  A  ditch 
is  also  being  dug  from  near  the  center  of  the  line  of  the  52nd  out  to 
the  skirmish,  so  that  it  will  not  be  so  dangerous  to  pass  out  and  back. 

August  15th,  1864.  Still  in  the  front  line.  Picket  firing  con 
tinues  steadily  with  an  occasional  cannon  'shot.  Bullets  whizzing  past 
us  continually.  Reliable  news  from  our  own  army  out  of  the  ques 
tion.  How  tiresome  it  is  to  be  confined  so  closely  night  and  day  to 
our  work.  A  new  trail  having  been  made  for  our  32  pounder  at  5  p. 
m.  it  was  again  in  position  and  I  began  tossing  shells  into  thje  doomed 
city  of  Atlanta.  Lieut.  Smitn  2nd  U.  S.  A.  has  ordered  that  a  shell  be 
thrown  into  Atlanta  every  15  minutes  during  the  night.  Orders  receiv 
ed  placed  the  troops  on  three-quarter  rations,  because  of  the  opera 
tions  of  the  rebel  cavalry  in  our  rear.  Reported  that  the  enemy  is 
in  possession  of  our  railroad  near  Dalton  and  still  holding  it.  Gen. 
Sherman  so  far  has  indeed  been  fortunate  in  keeping  open  his  com 
munications.  From  this  time  on  the  railroad  will  no  doubt  require 
strong  guards.  Battery  "H"  to-day  fired  a  few  shells  to  stir  up  the 
enemy.  Being  located  directly  in  front  of  the  battery,  I  am  not  able 
to  endure  the  concussion  when  they  fire,  although  I  have  cotton  in  my 
ears  and  I  also  cover  them  with  my  hands;  when  a  gun  is  fired  the 
pain  is  intense,  so  much  so  that  fearing  permanent  deafness  I  moved 
toward  the  left  of  the  52nd  after  the  battery  began  firing  to-day. 

August  16th,  1864.  All  night  long  last  night  our  large  gun  was 
throwing  shell  into  the  city.  Far  to  our  left  another  large  gun  was  also 
thus  speaking  to  the  inmates  of  the  doomed  city.  Surely  this  must  be 
annoying  to  the  people  of  Atlanta — to  the  non-combatants.  Continual 
explosion  of  shells  along  the  silent  hours  of  night  cannot  possibly  pro 
mote  quiet  and  peaceful  sleep,  so  much  to  be  desired  by  the  inhabi 
tants.  Fires  are  frequent  occurrences  of  late  in  the  city.  Two  conflag 
rations  occurred  last  night — supposed  to  be  caused  by  our  exploding 
shells. 

To-day  Battery  "H"  is  constructing  a  furnace  in  which  to  heat 
solid  shot  so  that  it  may  throw  red  hot  shot  into  the  city.  It  is  re 
ported  that  Gen.  Hood  has  been  lately  reinforced  by  troops  from  Lee's 
army.  No  doubt  he  is  continually  receiving  reinforcements,  but  I 
think  Lee  has  sent  none — Lee  has  none  to  spare  so  long  as  he  has 
our  old  Commander  Grant  to  face. 

Soon  after  daylight  the  trail  of  our  pet  gun  broke  again.  Dur 
ing  the  day  it  will  be  repaired,  and  I  hope  by  night  it  will  again  be 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  171 

performing  its  duty  of  shelling  the  city.  The  first  thing  I  saw  this 
morning  when  I  opened  my  eyes,  was  a  bullet  sticking  in  the  dirt 
about  eight  inches  above  my  head  where  it  had  struck  sometime  during 
the  night.  Reports  say  that  Gen.  Kilpatrick  has  returned  from  a  raid 
on  the  Macon  Railroad — that  he  tore  up  several  miles  of  the  track 
and  destroyed  a  large  amount  of  rebel  stores.  More  quiet  to-day,  but 
little  firing  on  our  skirmish  line.  Orders  now  received  from  Gen.  How 
ard,  commanding  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  instructing  all  officers  to 
curtail  as  much  as  possible  the  skirmisu  firing — the  trouble  with  our 
communications  is  the  probable  cause  of  the  order.  Prudence  would 
counsel  us  to  save  our  ammunition  until  the  way  is  open  for  freeh 
supply.  Once  more — 6  p.  m. — our  32  pounder  is  throwing  shell  into 
the  city.  May  they  prove  destructive. 

August  17th,  1864.  Very  quiet  during  the  night  save  the  regu 
lar  discharge  of  our  pet  gun,  the  32  pounder.  The  52nd  and  the  2nd 
Iowa  furnished  detail  for  the  skirmish  line  during  last  night.  Rebels 
opened  some  artillery  to  our  right  during  the  afternoon,  but  none  in 
our  front.  They  appear  to  entertain  a  wholesome  regard  for  Battery 
"H."  Although  our  artillery  is  used  more  than  at  any  other  one  point, 
the  rebels  are  careful  how  they  "talk  back."  Since  decreasing  our 
skirmish  fire,  the  enemy  has  increased  theirs.  At  3  p.  m.  Private  Hart- 
wick,  of  Co.  "F,"  came  in  from  the  skirmish  line  wounded  by  musket 
ball  in  right  arm  just  below  the  elbow.  Gen.  C.  being  sick  this 
evening  Gen;  Rice  is  in  command  temporarily  of  the  Division,  and 
Lieut.  Col.  Bowen  notified  by  Gen  Rice  to  take  command  of  our  brigade 
in  event  of  any  trouble.  During  the  night  about  11  o'clock  heavy 
picket  firing  to  our  right  which  lasted  but  a  few  minutes  when  all  be 
came  as  quiet  as  it  had  been. 

August  18th,  1864.  The  enemy  began  shelling  our  line  at  day 
light  as  if  they  suspected  that  we  intended  the  execution  of  some  sly 
movement.  Our  batteries  including  Battery  "H"  immediately  replied 
giving  them  ten  shells  for  one.  The  uproar  was  great  for  a  time. 
As  usual  I  walked  towards  the  left  of  the  52nd  far  enough  to  get  away 
from  being  directly  under  the  guns  of  Battery  "H"  to  save  my  hear 
ing.  At  10  o'clock  a.  m.  the  men  of  the  52nd  out  on  the  skirmish  line 
just  in  front  ordered  to  make  a  demonstration  by  opening  a  heavy  fire 
and  continuing  it  until  each  man  had  fired  15  rounds.  At  the  same 
time  our  artillery  kept  up  a  continuous  fire.  To  this  demonstration  the 
enemy  made  but  a  feeble  reply.  The  sound  of  battle  was  complete 
and  I  suppose  the  demonstration  answered  its  purpose.  The  enemy 
speedily  reinforced  their  skirmish  line  in  our  front  with  two  regiments. 
This  demonstration  was  quite  general  all  along  the  line  of  the  army  of 
the  Tenn.  Supposed  object  was  to  hold  the  enemy  in  our  front 


172  HISTORY  OF  THE  SEVENTH  IOWA 

while  an  expedition  sent  out  this  morning  under  Genl.  Kilpatrick 
cut  the  R.  R.  south  of  Atlanta.  Reported  that  Kilpatrick  is  under 
orders  to  destroy  the  railroad  or  sacrifice  his  command.  When  the 
enemy  opened  on  us  this  morning  our  batteries  replied  so  vigorously 
that  the  enemy  seemed  glad  to  quit  our  batteries.  So  far  have  been 
too  much  for  those  of  the  enemy.  On  several  occasions  they  have  tried 
to  silence  our  guns,  and  as  often  have  failed.  No  battery  in  our  army 
is  handled  better  than  Battery  "H"  under  command  of  Lieut.  Blodgett 
of  the  39th  Iowa  Infty.  Wishing  this  morning  to  wash  my  face  and 
hands  I  got  out  of  the  c-.ch  up  on  the  bank  with  Sergt.  Watson  to 
pour  water  out  of  a  canteen  on  my  hands.  Soon  Watson  and  I  heard 
a  minnie  "singing."  Charlie  and  I  looked  at  each  other  and  stood  still 
— no  time  to  jump — bullet  went  between  us  and  the  washing  was 
quickly  finished.  All  cooking  is  done  to  the  rear  by  the  company 
cooks.  Each  company  has  two  darkey  cooks  regularly  mustered  into 
the  service  as  such  with  regular  pay  and  clothing.  These  cooks  have 
indeed  a  great  time' in  getting  to  us  three  times  a  day  with  hot  coffee. 
They  come  to  us  on  the  run  afraid  of  their  lives,  as  indeed  they  have 
a  right  to  be,  and  with  their  dodging  and  running  sometimes  they 
manage  to  spill  a  good  share  of  the  coffee,  which  makes  the  boys 
swear.  This  morning  our  cook,  Pete,  came  to  us  with  coffee — he  jump 
ed  down  into  the  ditch  laughing  as  though  in  a  fit.  I  asked  him 
"What's  the  matter,  Pete?"  and  he  said,  "Why,  I  was  just  comin'  along 
ober  dar,  whar  you  see  them  trees,  and  de  bullets  dey  got  a  hummin' 
pooty  thick,  an'  so  I  just  got  behind  a  big  tree,  and  jus  den  a  white 
man  he  come  along  and  he  say,  you  darky,  dar,  what  for  you  get  be 
hind  a  tree?  an'  right  dar  befo'  I  could  say  anything  one  of  dem  big 
shells  come  right  along  dar,  a  screechin'  an'  a  rippin'  and  dat  white 
man  he  jus'  jump  for  my  tree  too."  And  when  Pete  finished  telling 
his  story  he  went  off  in  a  fit  of  laughter. 

August  19th,  1864.  Very  quiet  in  our  front  during  the  forenoon 
aside  from  the  regular  discharges  of  our  big  gun  and  the  usual  crack 
of  muskets  along  the  skirmish  line.  It  is  said  that  Gen.  Sherman 
claims  good  execution  is  being  done  by  our  big  gun.  About  150  shells 
are  thrown  by  it  daily.  Battery  "H"  has  been  throwing  hot  shot  into 
the  city.  The  Battery  boys  heat  the  shot  to  red  heat  in  the  furnace  they 
built  and  the  guns  are  loaded  all  but  the  hot  cannon  ball — wet  wadding 
that  will  be  next  to  hot  ball — then  they  bring  the  red  hot  ball  from 
the  furnace  in  a  sort  of  iron  frame  carried  by  two  men — get  it 
into  the  gun  and  away  it  goes.  If  it  lodges  in  wood  its  sure  to  kindle 
fire.  About  noon  to-day  saw  Gen.  Dodge,  who  commands  our  corps,  go 
through  our  regiment,  geuing  over  our  breastwork  and  going  out  to  the 
skirmish.  Men  all  watched  him — heard  one  of  my  men  say  "The 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  11 

damned  old  fool,  he'll  get  a  bullet  sure."  I  thought  the  same  thing, 
for  Gen.  Dodge  is  an  engineer  and  certain  to  want  to  see  the  ground 
and  enemy  in  front  with  his  own  eyes.  Our  line  is  so  close  to  the 
enemy,  only  about  15  rods  between,  that  both  sides  have  to  shoot 
from  cover.  Our  men  have  holes  through  the  top  of  breastwork  with 
brush  on  outside  to  conceal  its  exact  locality.  The  instant  a  head  or 
person  on  either  side  is  exposed,  a  dozen  bullets  are  let  loose.  I 
watched  Gen.  Dodge,  therefore,  anxiously,  knowing  the  danger,  saw 
him  reach  the  line  and  saw  him  getting  up  to  a  place  where  he  could 
tcke  a  look  and  then  he  reeled  and  fell  in  a  heap.  Sure  enough  just 
as  we  had  feared,  he  had  got  a  bullet.  Some  of  the  o2nd  men  picked 
up  our  "stretcher"  and  ran  over  to  where  he  was  and  brought  him 
back  to  our  line.  He  had  been  hit  on  top  of  the  head  cutting  the 
scalp — half  an  inch  lower  and  the  bullet  would  have  ended  him.  As 
it  was  it  knocked  him  senseless,  but  he  soon  re2overed  consciousness. 
It  was  a  close  call  for  him.  At  3:00  p.  m.  another  demonstration  ap 
parently  was  made  on  our  right.  Rapid  firing  of  cannon  and  continuous 
musketry  distinctly  heard.  About  4  o'clock  p.  m.  Private  Elias  Floyd, 
of  Co.  "B,"  was  seriously  wounded  by  musket  ball.  He  was  carried 
off  to  the  rear  on  the  "siretcher"  to  go  to  the  hospital.  When  hit  he 
was  standing  near  the  fort.  Many  a  man  on  this  campaign  has  been 
hurt  or  lost  his  life  by  being  exposed.  About  6  o'clock  p.  m.  the  7th 
Iowa  relieved  the  52nd  and  we  marched  back  to  the  rear  a  short  dis- 
tnnce  and  camped  beaind  a  hih  for  protection.  The  52nd  has  been  nine 
days  confined  to  their  ditch — it  was  hard  on  the  men  and  it  began  to 
affect  them — so  the  regiment  was  relieved  and  sent  to  the  rear  to  get 
a  rest.  The  hillside  where  we  camped  is  rather  steep  for  a  place 
to  sleep  and  is  covered  with  much  stone.  However,  it  is  a  comparatively 
safe  place,  and  that's  worth  something. 

Aujrvst  20th,  1864.  Expected  to  have  a  good  sleep  last  night, 
but  it  didn't  turn  out  -so,  though  I  fared  better  than  most  did.  I  got 
a  long  plank^!4  to  1C  feet  long  and  about  15  inches  wide — to  sleep 
upon.  Would  like  to  have  cut  it  in  the  middle  it  was  so  long,  but 
I  had  no  way  to  do  it.  Built,  up  a  pile  of  stone  to  elevate  the  down 
hill  end  of  the  plank  so  I  wouldn't  slide  off  of  it,and  I  built  a  "shebang" 
wi»h  small  poles  and  my  rubber  blankets  over  the  plank.  Laid  down 
to  sleep  early;  bright  moonlight.  Soon  asleep,  but  about  9:00  o'clock 
was  o  wakened  by  a  gust  of  wind.  I  raised  up  just  in  time  to  catch 
my  blankets,  as  the  string  broke  with  more  wind — saw  that  a  thunder 
storm  was  right  upon  us.  At  once  I  tucked  one  rubber  over  my  feet 
and  legs  and  other  rubber  over  the  rest  of  my  body  and  Vny  head  as 
I  laid  there  at  full  length  on  the  plank,  as  I  did  it  the  storm  broke 
out  and  how  it  did  pour,  and  how,the  men  did  howl  and  swear.  Their 


174  HISTORY    OF    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

"shebangs"  had  gone  to  pieces  like  mine  and  they  were  out  in  the 
rain.  My  blankets  protected  me  and  as  I  laid  there  flat  on  my  back, 
I  congratulated  myself  on  my  condition,  but  suddenly  I  felt  a  stream 
of  cold  water  running  down  my  backbone.  The  end  of  my  long  plank 
stuck  7  or  8  feet  above  my  head  and  all  the  water  it  caught  ran  right 
down  my  back.  However,  I  laid  still — would  rather  be  wet  in  one 
place  than  all  over.  Storm  ended  as  suddenly  as  it  began,  but  the  men 
were  soaked  through  and  they  stood  around  fires  most  of  th'e  night  in 
the  effort  to  get  dried  out.  I  turned  my  plank  over  and  went  to  sleep 
again.  It  was  a  hard  night  for  the  men — the  rain  was  cold  and  catching 
them  unprepared,  the  men  got  thoroughly  soaked — it  makes, them  feel 
stiff  this  morning.  Clear  this  morning — later  clouded  up — had  fre 
quent  showers  during  the  day.  Go's.  "B"  and  "C"  are  on  tl^e  skirmish 
line.  About  2:00  o'clock  p.  m.  Private  Sidney  Hallwick,  of  Co.  "C"  was 
brought  in  from  the  skirmish  line,  dead.  He  received  a  center  shot  in 
forehead,  killing  him  instantly.  No  other  casualities  during  the  d:-iy. 
We  have  more  rest  in  this  position  though  we  are  still  in  the  range 
of  bullets. 

August  21st,  1864.  As  quiet  all  day  as  usual,  as  quiet  as  it  can  be 
with  two  armies  facing  each  other  as  we  are,  close  up.  No  news  to 
day  either  to  discourage  or  cheer.  Surely  our  men  would  like  it  if  some 
thing  would  take  place  to  relieve  us  of  constant  anxiety  and  sus 
pense.  The  army  needs  rest.  It's  only  the  toughest  kind  of  men  that 
can  stand  this  kind  of  life.  The  52nd  has  sent  away  over  150  sick,  prob 
ably  not  half  of  them  will  ever  come  back.  Two  of  my  men,  Private 
Cias.  Murray  and  Austin  Hoben,  have  died — good,  sound  young  men. 
And  besides  this  continual  crack  of  muskets  and  this  whizzing  of 
bullets  has  indeed  become  a  bore.  How  pleasant  it  would  be  if  one  could 
only  get  away  from  such  living  as  this  for  awhile,  where  one  could  lie 
down  to  sleep  without  the  danger  of  being  pierced  with  a  bullet.  I 
haven't  slept  a  single  night  with  my  clothing  off  since  the  latter  part 
of  June,  and  all  I  have  to  cover  me,  wet  or  dry,  is  two  rubber  blan 
kets  which  I  carry. 

August  22nd,  1864.  Matters  remained  through  the  day  the  same  as 
yesterday — the  same  cracking  of  muskets  and  the  same  whizzing  of  bul 
lets.  About  6  o'clock  p.  m.  my  Co.  ("E")  and  companies  "G",  "I" 
and  "K,"  all  under  command  of  Capt.  Barto  of  Co.  "K"  went  out  on 
the  skirmish  line.  My  Co.  relieved  Co.  "I"  of  the  7th  Iowa.  Lieut. 
H.  I.  Smith,  in  command  of  the  company,  told  me  he  was  on  duty 
when  Gen.  Dodge  came  out  to  take  a  look.  That  Dodge  asked  him 
where  was  a  good  place  10  look  and  he  said  to  Dodge,  "Here  is  a  good 
place  to  look;"  and  he  said  to  Dodge,  "Here,  General,  is  a  good  place 
where  I've  just  been  shooting,"  and  the  lieutenant  showed  me  the 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  175 

little  hole  he  had  made  to  shoot  through.-  And  then  he  added,  "Lieu 
tenant,  you  can't  imagine  how  I  felt  as  when  I  was  helping  the  General 
up  to  look,  the  bullet  came  and  he  fell  back  into  my  arms,  as  I  thought 
a  de»d  man."  The  7th  boys  marched  off  and  taking  their  places  our  men 
were  soon  at  it — bang,  bang,  of  muskets  on  our  side  and  whiz,  whiz, 
spat,  spat,  of  bullets  the  rebels  sent  back  at  us.  No  sleep  or  quiet  for 
us  this  night. 

August  23rd,  18G4.  Under  instructions  received  the  men  kept 
up  a  strong  firing  all  last  night  and  to-day  until  relieved  about  6 
o'clock  p.  m.  Men  complain  of  feeling  the  effect  of  so  much  shooting — 
shoulders  lame.  Had  no  men  hurt  on  the  skirmish  line.  The  troops 
including  that  part  of  the  52nd  not  on  the  skirmish  were  under  arms  be 
fore  daylight  in  readiness  for  anything  that  might  happen.  Last  night 
1st  Sergt.  H.  C.  Williamson  of  Co.  "H"  while  sleeping  was  seriously 
wonncled  in  the  leg  by  a  musket  bail.  Reported  to-day  that  General 
Kilpotrick  has  returned  from  his  raid,  and  he  destroyed  in  places 
ten  miles  of  railroad  track,  that  he  lost  ninety  men  captured,  and  that 
he  captured  a  brigade  of  rebels,  but  couldn't  bring  tnem  along —  pa 
roled  them.  Brought  away  cue  piece  of  artillery  and  spiked  four  more 
and  destroyed  eight  caissions.  Brought  in  his  own  wounded.  My 
cousin,  Frank  Spaulding,  in  the  92nd  Illinois  Mounted  Infantry,  is 
in  his  command.  Frank  Hope  is  safe  and  sound. 

August  24th,  1864.  Very  quiet  and  monotonous  in  our  camp  dur 
ing  the  forenoon.  During  the  afternoon  the  enemy  sent  frequent 
shells  to  stir  us  up  as  if  to  make  -inquiries  as  to  our  whereabouts  and 
probable  intentions.  They  seem  to  act  as  if  they  thougnt  we  were  about 
to  make  some  change  of  base  in  our  operations,  and  in  this  they  may 
be  right.  The  indications  for  several  days  past  have  pointed  to  an  early 
irove  by  our  forces,  but  just  what  the  generals  only  know. 

August  25th,  1864.  During  yesterday  afternoon  and  last  night 
trains  and  troops  reported  as  passing  in  our  rear  and  to  our  right.  The 
siei?e  guns  to  our  front  were  taken  to  the  rear  last  night.  The  an 
ticipations  are  that  the  left  of  our  army  will  pass  to  the  extreme  right. 
4rhis  morning  orders  were  received  for  tie  52nd  to  be  in  readiness  to 
march  at  7  o'clock  a.  m.,  but  th,e  order  was  soon  countermanded — this 
suggests  that  quite  likely  we  will  make  a  silent  move  during  the  night. 
Our  wagons  sent  to  the  re-jr  with  the  trains.  About  4  o'clock  p.  m. 
the  52nd  in  obedience  to  orders  reported  to  Capt.  Barber  7th  Iowa, 
Chief  of  Out  Posts,  2nd  Division,  16th  A.  C.  Marched  one  and  one-half 
miles  to  the  rear — five  companies  of  the  52nd  were  deployed  as  skir 
mishers  in  front  of  works  to  be  occupied  temporarily  by  our  Division 
— the  other  five  companies,  including  mine,  held  in  reserve.  -During 
the  night  the  16th  A.  C.  passed  through  our  line  and  went  into  po- 


176  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

sition  in  new  works  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  our  rear.  The  entire 
army  to  our  left  is  in  motion  to  our  right.  Report  says 
that  the  20th  A.  C.  is  to  retire  to  Vinings  Station  on  the  Chattahoochee 
River  and  guard  the  crossing  while  the  balance  of  the  army  will  move 
to  the  right  for  the  purpose  of  flanking  Hood  at  East  Point.  Night 
so  cool  that  I  got  quite  stiff  with  the  cold  while  sitting  in  the  darkness 
waiting  for  troops  to  pass  through.  Distance  marched  one-half  mile. 
August  26th,  1864.  Owing  to  the  tardiness  of  the  4th  A.  C.  in 
moving  our  skirmish,  of  16th  A.  C.,  line  was  not  ordered  back  from  the 
front  line  until  3  o'clock  a.  m.  Soon  after  sunrise  Gen.  Corse,  command 
ing  our  Div.,  directed  Col.  Bowen  to  send  a  company  back  to  the  front 
to  patrol  the  road  and  to  establish  a  vidette  post  at  Walker's  fort — I 
was  directed  to  report  at  once  all  movements  of  the  enemy  I  saw  and 
when  pressed  by  the  enemy  to  slowly  retire  skirmishing.  On  reaching 
the  fort  about  a  mile  from  where  the  52nd  was,  I  took  twelve  men  up 
into  the  fort  for  vidette  post,  leaving  balance  of  the  company  at  the 
bottom  of  the  hill.  Could  see  from  the  fort  all  along  the  front — to 
the  front  and  right  all  our  old  breastworks  had  been  vacated — 
the  left  and  in  the  first  breastwork  in  advance  of  the  one  I  was  in, 
could  see  two  companies  of  the  7th  Iowa  commanded  by  Lieut.  H.  I. 
Smith,  skirmishing  with  the  enemy.  The  enemy  kept  gathering  in  force 
until  at  last  they  made  a  rush  at  one  side.  I  could  see  them  getting 
ready — knew  the  symptoms  and  knew  what  was  coming.  When  the 
enemy  made  their  rush  our  men  made  to  the  rear  and  got  into  the  same 
line  that  I  was  in,  but  to  the  left  a  distance.  Again  I  saw  the  enemy 
getting  ready  to  make  another  rush  at  our  men,  and  they  gathered  to 
the  n-imber  of  one  hundred  or  more  directly  in  my  front  expecting  to 
flank  our  fellows — had  kept  my  men  quiet  and  refts  hadn't  noticed 
us.  Directed  my  men  to  be  ready  and  when  the  enemy  jumped  over 
the  breastwork  to  make  their  rush  and  not  until  then,  to  give  them 
a  volley  and  surprise  them.  Soon  they  jumped  over  with  a  yell  when 
my  men  gave  them  'a  volley,  as  I  expected,  it  was  a  surprise  and  they 
scrambled  back.  We  now  received  attention  and  bullets  came  our  way 
pretty  thick,  and  we  could  see  they  were  preparing  and  gathering  to 
make  a  rush  upon  us.  Leaving  Sergeants  Smith  and  Buchanan  to  fire 
at  them  to  keep  up  appearances,  I  took  the  rest  of  the  men  to  the  Co. 
and  deployed  the  Co.  as  skirmishers  in  the  timber  at  the  rear  of  the 
fort,  and  then  I  went  back  to  the  fort  to  watch  events.  Three  times 
I  thought  they  were  on  the  point  of  starting  to  investigate,  and  as 
many  times  I  started  to  leave,  but  went  back.  At  last  saw  they  were 
coming  sure.  I  left  with  the  Sergeants — reached  my  men  and  gave 
them  caution — then  they  took  position  in  front  where  I  could  see  the 
top  of  hill  and  the  fort.  Presently  saw  the  enemy  coming  over  into  the 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  177 

fort  and  yelling  and  swinging  their  hats.  As  I  turned  to  go  to  my  line 
about  fifty  yards  back,  1  saw  two  regiments  (of  the  4th  A.  C.  so  it 
proved)  coming  up  the  road  silently,  but  on  the  double  quick.  A 
turn  in  the  road  prevented  the  rebels  from  seeing  them  'till  quite  close 
just  as  our  boys  were  charging  up  the  hill  at  them,  and  suddenly  the 
rebel  yelling  ended,  and  I  could  see  them  go  tumbling  over  the  fort 
like  sheep  over  a  fence — it  was  indeed  comical.  The  rebels  ran  back, 
the  regiment  marched  off,  and  I  re-established  my  vidette  port,  and 
the  shooting  was  renewed.  They  seemed  afraid  to  come  over  again, 
though  had  they  known  I  had  only  about  forty  men  against  their  two 
hundred  about,  we  wouldn't  have  been  permitted  to  stay  long.  Noti 
fied  Col.  Bowen  from  time  to  time  of  events.  With  about  a  dozen 
men,  I  kept  a  bold  front  in  the  old  fort  and  returned  the  evenings 
fire.  The  4th  A.  C.  was  passing  along  a  road  about  half  a  mile  in 
rear  of  us  going  to  the  right.  About  3  o'clock  p.  m.  could  hear  the 
skirmishing  going  OR  between  the  rear  guard  of  4th  A.  C.  and  the 
enemy  that  the  enemy  that  was  following  along  the  road.  Waited 
for  orders  to  rejoin  the  regiment — for  the  firing  was  getting  closer 
and  closer,  until  at  last  the  enemy  held  the  road  over  which  I  had 
marched.  I  determined  to  stay  no  longer  and  I  assembled  the  men 
and  just  started  to  return  to  the  regiment  when  an  orderly  reached 
me  with  orders  from  Col.  Bowen  to  rejoin  the  regiment  at  once — to  make 
no  delay  else  we  might  be  cut  off.  I  kept  the  course  on  which  1  had 
started  to  make  a  circuit  around  the  enemy's  skirmishers — could 
keep  track  of  their  whereabouts  by  the  firing,  and  we  marched  on  until 
at  last  we  came  out  of  the  timber  to  open  ground,  across  which  was 
our  skirmish  line — came  out  of  the  timber  at  the  same  time  that 
enemy's  skirmishers  came  out  of  the  timber  a  short  distance  to  my 
right.  Col.  Bowen  was  glad  to  see  us  appear — he  seemed  to  feel  re 
lieved.  We  marched  through  thick  timber  without  road  or  path — 
only  the  sound  of  firing  to  guide  us.  Rebels  didn't  know  that  a  com 
pany  of  "yanks"  was  in  the  timber  along  side  of  them  marching  a 
little  faster  than  they  were  going  along  the  road.  After  exchanging 
a  few  shots  with  our  skirmishers  the  enemy  withdrew  and  everything 
became  quiet  in  our  front.  The  20th  A.  C.  is  said  to  be  falling  back 
to  Vinings  Station  on  the  Chattahoochee  River.  Can  hear  some 
firing  far  to  our  right.  Frequent  showers.  It  was  expected  that  we 
would  march  during  the  day,  but  night  found  us  still  in  position — 
it's  certain  now  that  we  will  have  a  night  march  of  it — we  are  ordered 
to  be  ready  to  move  on  a  moment's  notice.  Had  no  men  hurt  today, 
but  some  of  my  boys  had  pretty  close  calls — did  some  good  dodging 
in  the  old  fort.  There  were  some  two  hundred  rebs  keeping  up  a  fire 
upon  us  for  about  three  hours. 


178  HISTORY    OP   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

August  27th,  1864.  At  12:30  last  night  the  52nd  was  ordered  to 
draw  in  its  skirmish  and  march  to  rejoin  the  brigade — the  troops 
by  that  time  having  all  got  by  and  out  of  our  way.  The  2nd  Division 
(ours)  was  acting  as  rear  guard  of  the  army  of  the  Tenn.  The  15th, 
17th  and  16th  A.  C.  were  ordered  to  move  out  to  the  right  and  rear  at 
8  o'clock  p.  m.  and  the  entire  skirmish  line  was  to  be  retired  under 
the  direction  of  Col.  Strong,  Inspector  of  Army  of  the  Tenn.  Owing 
to  the  distance  between  the  position  of  the  52nd  on  the  extreme  left 
and  the  rest  of  the  command  (Army  of  the  Tenn.)  to  the  right  it 
was  directed  that  the  52nd  should  withdraw  in  advance  01  other  parts 
of  skirmish  line  to  our  right.  The  15th  A.  C.  retired  on  one  road  and 
the  17th  A.  C.  followed  by  our  16th  A.  C.  retired  on  another.  Being 
behind  the  17th  A.  C.  our  moving  was  delayed  until  midnight  and  until 
after  the  skirmish  lines  to  our  right  had  been  withdrawn,  and  this  left 
us  necessarily  very  much  exposed.  We  reached  the  rest  of  the  bri 
gade  about,  2:30  a.  m.,  to  find  Col.  Rice  very  uneasy,  fearing  that  we 
had  been  cut  off.  The  enemy  kept  following  after  us, firing  shells, some 
of  which  went  over  us,and  they  kept  up  a  constant  fire  on  this  skirmish 
line  after  we  retired,  which  we  could  hear  after  we  marched  as  long  as 
the  sound  could  reach  us  in  the  distance.  Soon  after  the  52nd  joined 
the  brigade  the  9th  Ills.  Infty.  and  the  25th  Ind.  Infty.  (both  mounted) 
came,  then  we  began  our  march.  We  were  guided  to  keep  on  our  pro 
per  road  during  this  night  march  by  fires  kindled  along  the  road  at  in 
tervals.  We  continued  our  march  without  a  halt  until  6  o'clock  a.  m. 
This  morning  when  our  brigade  reached  the  rest  of  the  command 
breakfasting.  After  a  rest  of  about  2  hours  the  march  was  resumed.  The 
day  grew  to  be  hot — our  road  about  noon  was  along  a  ridge  and  through 
pine  barrens — little  or  no  water — the  troops  were  pushed  along  without 
any  halting  or  resting,  making  a  forced  march  to  gain  position  ap 
parently  in  the  execution  of  a  grand  flank  movement  on  the  enemy, 
when  time  was  everything.  Men  gave  out  rapidly  from  exhaustion.  I 
saw  mules  drop  dead  in  the  road,  right  in  the  harness,  given  out  and 
overcome  by  the  heat,  but  there  was  no  stopping — mules  might  die  in 
the  harness  and  men  be  left  by  the  roadside,  still  on  and  on  we  pushed. 
Not  many  men  that  can  march  farther  or  that  can  endure  more  than  I, 
but  about  2  p.  m.  it  did  seem  that  it  was  more  than  I  could  stand.  I 
had  only  five  men  left  of  my  company,  and  there  were  not  to  exceed 
fifty  all  told  of  the  regiment  still  with  the  colors.  It  was  simply 
terrific.  I  looked  ahead  anu  seeing  some  trees  that  would  afford  good 
shade,  I  determined  to  stop  there  anyway,  if  the  command  was  not 
halted,  but  before  we  reached  the  place  I  had  fixed  upon,  the  order 
came  to  halt  and  rest.  We  made  the  position  arrived  at,  The  strag 
glers  came  on  gradually  joining  us.  After  resting  for  a  couple  of 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  179 

hours  we  moved  on  a  short  distance  further  and  about  5  o'clock  p.  m. 
went  into  camp  near  Campbelltown,  Ga.  The  entire  movement  was 
successfully  made  without  interference  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  if 
indeed  they  knew  what  we  are  up  to.  Distance  marched  twenty  miles. 

August  28th,  1864.  Remained  in  our  camp  until  noon  when  our 
(16th)  Corps  marched  following  the  17th  A.  C.  moving  on  the  Campbell- 
town  road  towards  the  Montgomery  and  Atlanta  R.  R.  During  the 
afternoon  the  17th  A.  C.  took  position  on  the  railroad  and  fortified. 
The  16th  A.  C.  went  into  position  about  a  mile  in  the  rear  of  the 
17th  A.  C.  The  4th  Division  on  the  right  and  ours  (2nd)  Div.  on  the 
left — 1st  Brig,  on  the  lett  of  Div.  and  the  52nd  on  the  left  of  Brig,  and 
thereby  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  16th  A.  C.  The  52nd  camped  in  a 
fine  grove — good  water — such  a  nice  camp.  There  is  an  abundance  of 
green  corn — men  foraged  it  freely  and  feasted.  It  was  quite  an  addition 
to  our  regular  grub  of  bacon,  hardtack,  cofree,  sugar  three  times  a 
day  on  which  we  have  been  living  now  so  long.  Almost  any  time  one 
could  see  men  sitting  by  camp  fires  with  an  ear  of  corn  stuck  on  a 
stick  roasting  the  corn  and  eating  about  as  fast  as  the  corn  was  roasted. 
As  we  advanced  this  morning  there  was  some  rebel  cavalry  in  front, 
but  the  enemy  made  but  little  resistance,  falling  back  as  fast  as  our 
men  advanced.  Our  men  are  all  in  high  spirits.  They  feel  that  some 
thing  is  going  to  happen.  Gen.  Sherman  is  in  charge  of  this  excursion 
and  a  change  in  the  management  of  the  Montgomery  road  is  likely 
to  take  place  with  a  new  time  table  for  trains.  Distance  marched 
to-day,  six  miles. 

August  29th,  1864.  The  16th  A.  C.  inarched  early  this  morning, 
the  4th  Division  in  advance.  Our  (1st)  Brigade,  2nd  Division  in  the 
rear.  The  entire  command  moved  with  sixty  rounds  of  ammunition. 
The  men  were  well  supplieu  with  axes  and  picks.  Marched  through 
the  17th  A.  C.  thence  to  the  right  to  Fairburn  on  the  Montgomery  R. 
R.  Beginning  at  a  point  about  two  miles  south  of  Fairburn  the  entire 
corps  was  engaged  during  the  day  tearing  up  the  railroad  track. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  29th  it  assisted  in  destroying  the  At 
lanta  &  West  Point  Railroad,  near  Fairburn  Station.  On  the  morning 
of  the  30th  with  the  Second  Iowa  Infty.  we  were  ordered  to  support  the 
cavalry  "under  the  command  of  General  Kilpatrick,  in  the  flank  move 
ment  in  rear  of  Atlanta,  taking  the  main  road  leading  to  Jonesboro, 
the  command  moved  out,  on  the  double  quick  in  a  burning  sun,  carry 
ing  besides  arms,  ammunition,  rations,  a  number  of  intrenching 
tools.  A  fence  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  with  one  piece  of  artillery  at 
Stithville  P.  O.,  six  miles  northwest  of  Jonesboro,  posted  on  a  hill, 
across  the  road,  in  an  open  field,  with  derense  of  rails  and  logs,  the 
cavalry  fell  back  and  the  two  small  remnants  of  the  7th  and  2nd  Iowa, 


180  HISTORY   OP    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

under  command  of  Major  Hamhill  of  the  2nd.  Kilpatrick's  whole 
division  of  cavalry  armed  with "  Spencer  repeating  carbines  gave  us 
the  road  and  we  marched  between  them,  jeering  and  guying  them 
for  their  timidity  in  calling  upon  us  with  inferior  arms  to  do  a  little 
job  like  that.  The  command  moved  out  cautiously  until  it  arrived 
at  the  edge  of  a  field,  wnen  it  deployed  in  column  and  tne  charge  was 
ordered,  the  2nd  leading,  supported  in  close  touch.  With  a  shout 
the  command  moved  in  good  order,  carrying  the  crest  ana  defenses  in 
fine  style.  Major  Hamhill  and  a  number  of  men  were  wounded  and  the 
advance  was  continued  under  command  of  Captain  Mahon  of  the  7th, 
which  regiment  then  took  the  advance;  they  made  one  or  two  feeble 
stands,  one  near  Liberty  Hill,  but  hardly  delayed  our  onward  march 
to  Flint  river.  Arrived  at  Flint  river  late  on  the  same  day.  Took 
position  on  the  right  center  of  the  Brigade,  and  on  the  morning  of 
the  31st  fortified.  Crossed  the  river  at  noon,  and  the  enemy  making  an 
attack  about  the  same  time,  was  ordered  to  support  the  2nd  Brigade. 
Formed  in  rear  of  the  81st  Ohio  Infantry,  moving  up  at  double-quick 
and  in  fine  style.  From  this  was  moved  to  the  right,  forming  in  the 
front  line  on  the  right  of  the  52nd  Illinois  Infantry,  filling  a  gap 
between  that  regiment  and  the  river.  One  company — G — under  com 
mand  of  Lieut.  DeMuth,  was  thrown  out  to  the  front  and  right  to 
support  the  skirmish  line,  and  the  front  rank  men,  those  in  the  rear 
rank  holding  the  arms,  with  rails  from  a  tence  near  ai  hand,  had 
soon  constructed  a  barricade,  from  which  the  regiment  could  easily 
have  repulsed  three-  times  its  own  number. 

August  31st,  1864.  Last  night  about  1  o'clock  there  was  a  sud 
den  outburst  of  musketry  that  started  us  up.  This  morning  we  learn 
that  it  was  caused  by  the  92nd  Illinois  Infantry  (mounted)  in  General 
Kilpatrick's  command  having  run  up  against  the  enemy  as  the  92nd 
was  advancing  on  foot  in  the  darkness,  and  quite  a  fight  occurred,  but 
the  92nd  held  its  own.  At  10  o'clock  a.  m.  the  52nd  was  ordered  to 
change  front  by  refusing  the  left  and  advancing  the  right;  were  then 
ordered  to  construct  temporary  rail  works  sufficient  to  protect  the  men 
in  the  event  that  we  should  receive  attack.  Matters  indicate  a  lively 
day — 12:30  p.  m.  The  52nd  was  ordered  to  march  left  in  front  with 
the  rest  of  the  brigade  to  follow.  Crossing  Flint  river  we  proceeded 
a  short  distance  on  the  Jonesboro  road  and  turning  to  the  right  were 
placed  in  the  rear  of  our  2nd  brigade.  The  52nd  has  the  left  front  of 
the  1st  brigade.  The  2nd  brigade  is  in  the  front  line  of  battle  behind 
breastwork  and  joins  the  of  the  15th  A.  C.  The  1st  brigade  is  held 
in  reserve  to  the  2nd  brigade  or  any  part  of  the  line  near  that  may  need 
assistance.  3  p.  m.  The  enemy  are  now  shelling  our  line  quite  vigor 
ously — muskets  rattle  and  bullets  are  flying  freely.  Our  position  is  in, 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  181 

a  grove  on  ground  higher  than  the  battle  line — a  little  grove  about 
large  enough  to  hold  us,  so  that  we  catch  bullets  from  the  front — it's 
clip,  clip  through  the  trees  all  the  time.  When  the  firing  was  quite 
brisk  in  front  of  us,  a  negro  wench  came  running  towards  us  from  a 
house  near  the  front — she  was  badly  scared — the  men  began  calling 
to  her  "Dinah,  whar  you  going?"  etc.,  when  she  stopped  running  and 
began  to  talk  back,  but  just  then  a  snell  from  the  enemy  came  crush 
ing  along  and  completely  demoralized  her.  The  men  yelled  and  called 
to  her,  but  nothing  could  then  stop  her  flight  to  the  rear.  From  the 
indications  no  doubt  the  enemy  are  preparing  to  charge  our  lines.  Our 
position  is  a  bad  one — without  any  protection  whatever, and  with  noth 
ing  to  do  we  are  waiting  for  what  may  happen.  Private  Griffin  of  Co."D" 
was  just  now  wounded  in  the  calf  of  the  leg  by  a  musket  ball — 3:30 
p.  m.  The  noise  of  battle  increases  and  Battery  "H"  to  our  front  is 
pounding  away.  The  66th  Indiana,  which  is  on  the  right  of  the  52nd 
has  just  been  ordered  out  to  the  front  to  go  into  position  on  the  right 
of  the  2nd  brigade.  The  2nd  Iowa  quickly  followed  on  double-quick. 
The  7th  Iowa  followed  tae  2nd,  and  thus  the  52nd  followed  the  7th 
Iowa,  going  on  the  double-quick.  The  order  to  move  came  in  good 
time  and  was  a  great  relief  to  us  to  move  to  the  front,  for  twenty  min 
utes  previous  to  the  order  the  sheils  of  the  enemy  had  annoyed  us 
very  much,  as  they  seemed  to  have  our  range.  The  52nd  went  about 
twenty-five  or  thirty  rods  on  the  run  to  get  to  the  front,  going  left  in 
'front  and  swing  into  line  by  the  side  of  Battery  "H"  which  at  that 
time  was  pounding  away  with  its  six  guns  at  a  brigade  of  the  enemy 
that  had  started  to  capture  it.  As  our  men  went  into  line  on  the  run 
they  sent  up  a  cheer.  The  line  of  the  52nd  faced  a  dense  pine  thicket, 
but  as  we  afterwards  learned  it  was  but  a  short  distance  through  it 
(about  ten  rods)  and  the  end  of  the  thicket  came  up  towards  the  bat 
tery  (H).  The  enemy  were  on  the  other  side  of  the  thicket  advanc 
ing  on  battery  "H,"  but  as  they  heard  our  cheer  they  halted.  Lieut.  Col. 
Bowen  directed  me  to  take  my  company  and  deploy  them  as  skir 
mishers  to  advance  through  the  thicket,  but  he  at  once  countermanded 
the  order,  and  sent  Capt.  Compton  with  Co.  "C"  to  the  front  as  my 
company  was  the  last  one  out  on  company  duty.  Soon  the  2nd  Iowa 
took  position  to  our  right  and  Capt.  Compton  who  was  covering  our 
right  flank  was  recalled.  As  the  enemy  did  not  appear  immediately 
every  other  man  was  ordered  to  step  out  of  the  ranks,  to  work  building 
a  rail  breastwork — his  comrade  in  the  ranks  to  hold  his  gun  for  him 
in  his  place  and  in  twenty  minutes  the  breastwork  was  completed. 
The  men  used  rails  from  a  fence  near  by — things  just  flew — how  men 
can  work  under  such  excitement.  While  this  is  going  on  a  man  from 
Battery  "H"  came  running  along  the  line  shouting  for  a  blacksmith. 


182  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

I  spoke  to  one  of  my  men  who  was  a  blacksmith  to  go  with  him,  and 
so  the  forge  of  the  battery  was  in  full  blast  just  behind  the  battery 
making  iron  bands  to  put  around  and  hold  together  the  trail  of  a 
gun,  which  had  been  cracked  or  split  by  the  recoil  of  the  gun  in  its 
firing.  We  expected  the  enemy  upon  us  every  minute — didn't  expect 
them  to  give  us  any  time  in  which  to  prepare  for  them.  Again  they 
began  to  advance  and  firing,  but  the  2nd  brigade  sent  up  a  cheer 
along  the  whole  line  that  told  them  that  we  were  in  position  and  in  force 
too  much  for  them,  and  the  enemy  halted.  Col.  Bowen  had  by  this 
time  ordered  Lieut.  Doty  with  Co."K"  to  go  to  the  front  as  skirmisher 
and  about  at  this  time  Co.  "K"  had  passed  through  the  thicket  to  the 
other  side  and  opened  fire  on  the  enemy,  who  then  began  to  retire.  A 
few  of  the  rebels  (four  or  five)  didn't  run,  but  surrendered.  Just  as  the 
52nd  came  into  line  Private  Geo.C. Chapman  of  Co."B"  was  wounded 
by  musket  ball  in  the  shoulder,  but  not  seriously.  No  part  of  the 
52nd,  except  Co.  "K"  was  engaged,  we  were  waiting  for  them  to  get 
them  at  close  range  when  shooting  would  tell.  Although  bullets  flew 
thickly  and  the  52nd  was  a  good  deal  exposed  while  moving  to  the 
front,  and  while  in  position  during  the  continuance  of  the  battle,  yet 
it  had  only  two  men  wounded.  From  prisoners  captured  it  appears 
that  Cheatham's  division  of  Hardee's  corps  made  the  attack  on  the 
16th  A.  C.  and  Bates'  division  of  same  corps  assaulted  the  15th  A.  C. 
The  enemy  made  a  vigorous  assault  on  our  lines,  but  the  attack  on  the 
15th  A.  C.  seemed  to  be  more  determined  than  in  front  of  16th  A.  C. 
The  loss  of  the  enemy  according  to  statement  of  prisoners  captured  must 
have  been  five  to  our  one.  We  had  much  the  advantage  by  the  pro 
tection  offered  by  our  breastworks.  When  the  enemy  began  to  retire 
we  began  to  use  our  entrenching  tools  to  strengthen  our  works,thinking 
they  might  come  back  upon  us.  On  this  movement  every  four  men  by 
turns  had  to  carry  either  an  axe  or  spade  or  shovel,  so  we  had  our 
tools  at  hand  to  use.  It  was  hard  worK  to  carry  them  in  addition 
to  the  rest  of  the  soldier's  load,  but  handy  to  have  when  wanted.  In 
formation  said  to  be  reliaole  has  been  received  that  Gen.  Sherman 
during  the  afternoon  attacked  the  enemy  at  Rough  and  Ready  between 
our  position  and  Atlanta,  and  gained  possession  of  the  railroad  at  that 
point  and  had  succeeded  in  cutting  off  a  corps  of  Hood's  army,  which 
was  attempting  to  reinforce  Hardee  here  at  Jonesboro.  It  is  ascertained 
that  the  loss  of  the  army  of  the  Tenn.  in  to-day's  battle  has  been  ex 
tremely  light — will  not  exceed  two  hundred  killed  and  wounded.  Men  or 
dered  to  sleep  on  their  arms  to-night  and  to  be  in  line  under  arms  at 
3  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Distance  marched  to-day,  one  and  one-hall 
miles. 

September  1st,  1864.     The  order  to  be  under  arms  at  3  o'clock 


BADGE,  15TH  ARMY  CORPS. 

The  badge  of  the  15th  Army  Corps  was  suggested  by  a  witty  Irish 
man's  joke: 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Atlanta  campaign  all  the  corps  in  Sher 
man's  army  had  distinctive  badges,  which  were  required  to  be  worn  on 
the  hats.  It  was  customary  when  marching  the  command  on  a  hot  day 
to  occasionally  halt  the  troops  to  give  them  a  chance  to  rest,  when  they 
would  sit  down,  each  side  of  the  road,  and  those  who  had  given  out  or 
straggled  would  take  that  time  to  catch  up  with  their  respective  com 
mands.  As  these  stragglers  were  marching  along  in  the  middle  of  the 
road,  between  the  resting  troops,  they  were  generally  subjected  to  the 
jokes  and  jeers  of  the  men  who  had  halted.  At  such  a  time,  an  Irishman, 
a  straggler,  was  woiking  his  way  to  the  front,  when  someone  asked  him 
to  what  corps  he  belonged.  He  replied,  "The  15th,  General  Logan's." 
He  was  then  asked,  "What's  your  badge  ?  "  His  reply  was,  slapping  his 
cartridge  box  which  hung  at  his  hip  on  his  belt  behind  him,  "This  and 
forty  rounds,''—  forty  rounds  being  the  number  of  cartridges  held  by  the 
box.  This  reply  pleased  General  Logan  so  much  that  a  minature  cart 
ridge  box  with  the  inscription,  "Forty  Rounds,"  was  adopted  as  the 
corps  badge,  and  enough  little  brass  badges  were  ordered  made  by  Tiffany 
&  Co.,  New  York,  to  supply  each  man  of  the  corps,  and  they  were  required 
to  wear  them  by  general  orders. 

The  badge  was  placed  on  a  square  diagonally;  the  square  was  color 
ed  to  denote  the  division  the  wearer  belonged  to  :  Red  denoting  first, 
White  second,  Blue  third,  and  Yellow  fourth  division  —  the  latter  color 
being  worn  by  the  7th  Iowa. 

The  above  cut  is  a  fac  similie  both  as  to  the  shape  and  size  worn. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  183 

countermanded  as  the  enemy  are  supposed  to  be  retreating.  At  day 
light  the  skirmishers  of  our  brigade  advanced  without  much  resist 
ance  about  one  mile  when  tne  enemy  were  found  in  position  building 
works.  In  obedience  to  orders  Col.  Bowen  carried  a  detail  of  a  Ser 
geant  and  fifteen  men  to  be  made  to  bury  the  enemy's  dead  in  front 
of  the  52nd.  The  Sergeant  and  his  men  buried  three  commissioned 
officers  and  fourteen  men.  About  9  o'clock  a.  m.  Co.  "I"  on  the  skir 
mish  line  sent  in  to  Col.  Bowen  ten  prisoners  which  they  had  captured. 
At  10  o'clock  a.  m.  Co.  K"  was  sent  out  to  relieve  Co.  "I"  as  skir 
mishers.  Rather  quiet  during  the  afternoon.  Artillery  fire  on  our 
part  continued  more  or  less.  Many  think  tne  enemy  is  getting  away 
as  fast  as  possible,  but  it  is  probable  there  will  be  more  fighting  first. 
Noon — A  congratulatory  order  from  Gen.  Howard  upon  the1  splendid 
victory  achieved  by  the  army  of  the  Tenn.  yesterday  has  just  been  re 
ceived  and  published  to  the  men.  During  the  afternoon  the  15th 
A.  C.  was  ordered  to  keep  up  a  heavy  demonstration  in  its  front.  No 
doubt  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  our  other  forces  operating  further 
to  the  left  and  in  rear  of  Hardee.  Late  in  the  afternoon  heavy  mus 
ketry  could  be  heard  far  to  our  left — supposed  to  be  the  14th  A.  C. 
Fighting  continued  until  dark.  Rumor  has  it  that  our  forces  succeeded 
in  turning  the  rebel  right  and  doubled  it  up  badly,  capturing  one  brigade 
of  rebel  infantry  and  fourteen  pieces  of  artillery.  Apparently  all  ar 
tillery  of  the  army  of  the  Tenn.  was  placed  on  the  front  lines  and  every 
piece  was  brought  into  action  shelling  Jonesboro.  Just  before  dark 
the  rain  of  shot  and  shell  into  the  devoted  town  of  Jonesboro  was 
just  terrific.  Late  in  tne  afternoon  or  evening  the  17th  A.  C.  moved 
into  position  on  the  right  of  the  16th  A.  C.  Gen.  Hardee  must  get 
his  army  out  of  its  present  position  to-night  or  to-morrow  it  will  be 
crushed.  This  appears  to  be  the  situation  and  is  understood  by  the 
soldiers.  Men  are  in  high  spirits. 

September  2nd,  1864.  The  enemy  commenced  leaving  our  front 
last  night  soon  after  darK.  Long  before  daylight  this  morning  our 
skirmish  line  under  command  of  Capt.  D.  C.  Newton  of  the  52nd  ad 
vanced  and  found  the  enemy  gone  from  their  works.  During  the 
advance  a  man  of  Co.  "K"  captured  a  rebel  officer  (Lieut.)  and  brought 
him  in  to  Col.  Bowen.  Another  Co.  "K"  man  captured  two  rebel  sol 
diers  and  brought  them  in  to  Col.  Bowen.  Co.  "K"  secured  fifteen 
stands  of  arms,  but  not  being  able  to  send  them  in  readily,  broke  them 
up.  Newton  with  his  skirmishers  was  the  first  into  and  through  the 
town,  Soon  after  daylight  columns  of  troops  were  in  motion  in  pur 
suit  of  the  enemy.  The  15th  A.  C.  marched  through  the  town  on  the 
main  road  running  parallel  into  the  R.  R.  in  the  direction  of  Lovejoy's 
Station.  The  14th  A.  C.  is  said  to  be  advancing  on  the  left  of  the  15th 
A.C.  The  16th  A.C.is  advancing  to  the  right  of  the  15th  A.C.and  through 


184  HISTORY   OF  THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

fields  making  its  own  road  as  it  goes.  The  17th  A.  C.  advanced  on 
a  road  running  along  to  the  right  of  the  16th  A.  C.  The  morning  is 
bright  and  clear  and  the  men  feel  elated — and  its  a  grand  sight  to  see 
the  masses  and  lines  of  troops  leading  out  seeking  the  enemy.  The 
enemy  made  but  little  resistance  to  our  advance  until  near  Lovejoy's 
Station,  we  came  in  sight  of  the  enemy  in  position  and  hard  at  work 
building  breastworks.  The  country  here  is  quite  open  giving  one  a 
chance  to  see  more  than  has  been  usual.  The  14th,  17th  and  a  part 
of  the  15th  A.  C.  advanced  cautiously  upon  the  enemy's  works  late 
in  the  afternoon,  and  more  for  the  purpose  of  getting  into  position 
than  to  i  ress  the  enemy,  though  quite  a  brisk  skirmish  took  place  caus 
ing  the  f-nemy  to  give  ground.  Night  coming  on  all  operations  ceased. 
Between  the  hours  of  2  o'clock  a.  m.  last  night  and  daylight  this  morn 
ing  heavy  sounds  could  be  heard  in  the  direction  of  Atlanta,  resembling 
heavy  and  continuous  cannonading.  We  conjecture  that  it  is  caused 
by  the  enemy  blowing  up  and  destroying  magazines  and  ordnance 
stores  while  evacuating  Atlanta — stores  that  the  enemy  is  unable  to 
take  away.  Thus  far  Gen.  Sherman's  plans  have  been  successfully 
executed.  Sherman  divided  his  army  and  with  this  part  of  it  has 
thoroughly  defeated  a  large  part  of  Hood's  army  under  Hardee  and 
what  is  left  of  Hardee's  force  is  being  pursued.  Here  we  are  firmly 
planted  on  Hood's  communications — his  only  remaining  railroad.  The 
air  is  full  of  rumors  to-day — among  other  things  it  is  rumored  that 
Gen.  Slocum  with  the  20th  A.  C.  took  possession  of  Atlanta  to-day, 
the  enemy  having  previously  evacuated  the  city.  The  army  of  the 
Tenn.  lost  but  few  killed  and  wounded  comparatively  in  the  engage 
ments  of  August  31st  and  September  1st,  while  the  loss  of  the  enemy 
was  exceedingly  heavy.  Distance  marched  to-day,  six  miles. 

September  3rd,  1864.  This  morning  Gen.  Sherman  issued  a 
circular  order  to  his  army  stating  that  he  had  official  information 
that  Gen.  Slocum  took  possession  of  Atlanta  at  11  o'clock  a.  m.  on 
yesterday— the  enemy  had  evacuated  the  city  destroying  magazines  and 
stores  in  large  quantities.  Sherman  says  our  work  has  been  well  done 
— that  all  destruction  of  railroads  will  cease  at  once.  The  publication 
of  this  circular  to  the  various  regiments  called  forth  loud  and  pro 
longed  cheering.  The  soldiers  of  our  own  army  can  appreciate  better 
than  any  others  the  fall  of  the  stronghold  of  rebeldom.  How  jubi 
lant  are  the  men.  All  is  quiet  when  suddenly  without  a  word  some 
one  man  sends  up  a  cheer  and  it  is  taken  up  by  others  who  join  in 
and  the  cheer  goes  spreading  and  speeding  and  swelling  up  to  high 
Heaven  along  the  lines  away  off  in  the  distance  as  far  as  the  ear  can 
hear.  And  this  cheering  is  kept  up  all  day  as  the  men  feel  too  good 
to  keep  quiet.  And  no  wonder  the  boys  are  jubilant  over  the  fall  of 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRV  185 

Atlanta,  after  having  toiled  and  suffered  and  skirmished  and  fought 
as  they  have  for  the  last  four  months  to  secure  it  as  a  prize.  The 
enemy  is  still  in  our  front  in  force  apparently  entrenching  to  stub 
bornly  resist  our  further  advance.  Hardee  desires  evidently  to  main 
tain  his  present  position  until  Hood  can  join  him  with  the  rest  of  his 
army.  It  is  said  that  Gen.  Sherman  stated  to-day  that  he  would  con 
front  the  enemy  for  a  few  days  to  let  the  boys  have  a  chance  to  eat 
corn  and  sweet  potatoes,  and  that  he  would  move  back  to  Atlanta  and 
give  us  a  rest.  About  2  o'clock  p.  m.  our  (2nd)  division  marched  to 
the  front  and  right  going  into  position  on  the  right  of  the  17th  A.  C. 
and  on  the  extreme  right  of  our  army.  The  4th  division  16th  A.  C. 
moved  out  to  our  rear  and  right  to  protect  our  flank.  1st  brigade 
on  the  right  of  the  2nd  division —  the  52nd  on  the  left  of  1st  brigade. 
The  52nd  by  way  of  protection,  constructed  light  rail  and  earthwork 
during  the  afternoon  to  cover  its  front.  No  enemy  in  our  front.  To 
our  left  and  in  front  of  17th  A.  C.  they  appear  to  be  in  force  and  skir 
mishing  continues  briskly.  Showers  during  the  day.  Marched  two 
miles. 

September  4th,  1864.  Quiet  in  our  front,  weather  cloudy  and 
cool.  Men  in  high  spirits.  All  entrenching  tools  returned  to  brigade 
headquarters,  but  about  9  o'clock  a.  m.  Gen.  Corse,  commanding  our 
division,  directed  that  we  construct  an  abattis  in  front  of  our  works, 
The  52nd  obtained  axes  and  the  work  began  immediately  and  soon 
completed — it  is  done  by  way  of  precaution.  Green  corn  and  sweet 
potatoes  in  abundance.  The  sanitary  condition  of  our  men  has  improv 
ed  so  much  since  leaving  the  entrenchments  around  Atlanta  and  the 
morale  of  our  army  never  was  better  than  it  is  now.  Our  victory  is 
complete  and  the  men  seem  to  fully  comprehend  it.  We  have  received 
no  mail  since  we  started  from  Atlanta  on  this  excursion. 

September  5th,  1864.  This  morning  as  the  commanding  officer  of 
my  company,  and  having  been  in  command  of  it  during  the  cam 
paign,  I  was  notified  by  general  orders  to  prepare  and  forward  to  army 
headquarters  a  written  report  of  the  operations  of  my  company  from 
May  3rd  last  to  the  present  time.  All  commanding  officers  of  regi 
ment,  companies  and  batteries  are  requested  to  make  such  report. 
I  began  at  once  and  finished  my  report  about  2:00  o'clock 
p.  m.,  having  written  several  pages  of  foolscap,  and  I  de 
livered  same  to  Lieut.  Col.  Bowen  to  forward  through  the  regular 
channels.  In  the  afternoon  all  our  teams  moved  off  to  the  rear  to  get 
out  of  our  way,  apparently.  This  means  that  we  will  move  soon, 
probably  to-night.  It  is  reported  that  orders  have  been  issued  for  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee  to  garrison  East  Point.  The  Army  of  the 
Ohio  to  garrison  Decatur,  and  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 


186  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

berland  to  garrison  Atlanta  and  guard  the  railroad  from  Atlanta  to 
Chattanooga.  A  few  weeks'  rest  will  indeed  be  welcome.  About  5 
o'clock  p.  m.  we  had  a  heavy  shower — rain  fell  in  torrents.  All  the 
men  get  wet — wind  strong,  upsetting  nearly  all  the  "shebangs." 

At  8  o'clock  p.  m.  we  marched  out  of  our  works  following  the  2nd 
Iowa — marched  two  miles  towards  Jonesboro  and  halted  to  rest.  Rainy, 
dark  and  roads  muddy.  March  continued  towards  Jonesboro  for  some 
distance,  then  we  marched  to  the  right  about  a  half  a  mile  and  occu 
pied  some  old  works  until  daylight  to  cover  the  backward  movement 
of  the  17th  A  C.  It  was  hard  marching  in  the  darkness  and  rain 
through  the  mud, but  the  men  took  it  all  good  naturedly  and  didn't  com 
plain.  Distance  marched,  five  miles. 

September  6th,  1864.  Marched  at  daylight  from  the  works  oc 
cupied  by  us  during  the  latter  part  of  the  night — passed  through 
Jonesboro  to  the  works  built  by  the  52nd  in  front  of  Jones 
boro  on  the  Shoal  Creek  the  31st  of  August.  Here  the  regiment 
remained  during  the  day.  Took  matters  easy  to-day  lying  in  the 
shade  and  resting.  Everybody  feeling  good.  Distance  marched  to 
day,  four  miles. 

September  7th,  1864.  At  6  o'clock  a.  m.  fhe  command  took  up 
the  line  of  march  for  East  Point,  We  retired  for  a  short  distance  on 
the  road  on  which  our  corps  advanced  upon  Jonesboro,  and  then  the 
march  was  continued  to  the  vicinity  of  Morrows  Mills  where  we  went 
into  camp  about  one  o'clock  p.  m.  Marched  most  of  the  way  over 
good  roads.  Weather  cloudy  and  cool.  Distance  marched,  eight  miles. 

September  8th,  1864.  Marched  early  in  the  morning  for  East 
Point.  Soon  came  to  the  Montgomery  and  Atlanta  Railroad.  Crossed 
the  railroad  and  followed  the  rebels'  works  around  to  the  west  of  East 
Point.  Our  (2nd)  division  went  into  camp  about  one  mile  northwest  of 
town.  The  4th  division  occupied  a  position  to  our  left  fronting  south. 
The  15th  A.  C.  holds  the  center— the  16th  A.  C.  the  right  and  the  17th 
A.  C.  the  left  of  the  line  of  the  army  of  the  Tennessee.  We  are  glad 
to  get  into  a  quiet  and  permanent  camp  once  more.  We  anticipate  at 
least  to  have  thirty  days  rest  from  the  fatigue  of  our  long  and  ar 
duous  campaign,  and  for  a  time  at  least  not  to  smell  burning  powder 
and  to  be  rid  of  hearing  whizzing  of  bullets.  As  soon  as  we  were  as 
signed  our  position  the  men  began  building  "shebangs"  to  protect 
themselves  from  the  weather.  Our  wagons  came  to  us  and  we  again 
had  our  blankets  and  "good  clothes."  I  built  a  bunk  for  myself  with 
poles  supported  on  short  crotches,  put  up  poles  and  rubber  blankets 
overhead  to  protect  me  from  the  sun  and  from  rains.  Long  before 
night  I  was  quite  well  fixed.  When  we  first  stacked  arms  and  broke 
ranks,  I  wanted  to  take  a  smoke,  but  I  hadn't  a  match  left  with  which 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  187 

to  light  my  pipe.  We  were  all  out  of  matches  and  I  watched  the  lines 
waiting  for  a  fire  to  be  kindled  somewhere,  and  I  waited  and  watched 
a  long  time,  and  no  one  seemed  to  be  able  to  light  a  camp  fire.  At 
last  a  fire  was  kindled  in  the  7th  Iowa — I  saw  the  smoke  going  up, 
but  I  was  not  the  only  one  that  saw  it,  for  as  I  started  for  it  that  I 
might  light  my  pipe,  I  saw  men  coming  from  all  directions.  The  two 
men  that  built  tne  fire  to  cook  their  dinner  were  not  able  for  half  an 
hour  to  make  any  use  of  it,  because  of  the  number  that  crowded 
around  to  get  "a  little  fire."  It  was  spread,  however,  and  one  could 
see  smoke  going  up  all  along  the  line  and  all  was  well.  Distance 
marched,  four  miles. 

September  9th,  18b4.  I  expected  to  have  a  good  and  peaceable 
sleep  last  night,  but  I  didn't.  I  had  a  good  bunk  fixed  up  and  had  all 
my  blankets  from  the  baggage  wagon  and  a  decent  sort  of  a  bed  for  a 
soldier,  and  I  undressed  and  went  to  bed  soon  after  "taps."  Last  night 
was  the  first  time  that  I  have  laid  down  at  night  to  sleep  without  be 
ing  fully  dressed  and  ready  for  anything  since  the  27th  of  June — 
for  more  than  two  months  I  have  not  slept  (neither  have  the  men)  a 
single  night  with  my  clothes  off,  and  so  last  night  as  soon  as  I  was 
asleep  I  was  the  victim  of  dreams  and  troubled  thoughts — in  my  sleep 
I  seemed  to  be  aware  that  I  was  in  bed  undressed  and  that  it  was  not 
proper  so  to  be,  I  felt — and  the  thoughts  would  trouble  me  until  they 
woke  me  up.  I  would  remember  where  we  were  and  that  it  was  all 
right  and  getting  composed  in  mind  would  go  to  sleep  again,  only  to 
have  the  same  dreams  to  wake  me  up  again.  I  went  through  the  whole 
night  just  in  that  way,  and  this  morning  I  feel  anything  but  re 
freshed.  Have  had  many  a  better  nights  sleep  when  cannon  boomed 
and  muskets  cracked  through  the  night.  Last  night  as  soon  as  I  was 
asleep  I  got  nervous,  apparently. 

Yesterday  may  be  said  to  end  the  Atlanta  campaign  since  April 
29th.  The  52nd  Illinois  has  been  constantly  in  the  "field"  and  has 
shared  its  full  complement  of  the  hardships  and  dangers  attending 
so  long  and  so  hazardous  a  campaign. 

Success  may  be  said  to  have  attended  Gen.  Sherman  in  the 
execution  of  all  of  his  plans  against  the  enemy  from  Dalton  to  Jones- 
boro.  He  not  only  captured  Atlanta,  but  he  demonstrated  the  fact  that 
Northern  men  can  campaign  during  the  summer  months,  and  endure 
the  heat  as  well,  if  not  better,  than  the  men  of  the  south.  To-day 
Gen.  Sherman  issued  an  order  publishing  to  the  troops  the  congratu 
lations  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  and  of  Gen.  Grant.  The 
dispatches  read  were  as  follows: 

Washington,  D.  C.,  September  3rd,  1864.  The  Nation's  thanks 
are  rendered  by  the  President  to  Major  General  W.  T.  Sherman  and 


188  HISTORY  of  THE  SEVENTH  IOWA 

the  gallant  officers  and  soldiers  of  his  command  before  Atlanta,  for 
the  distinguished  ability  and  perserverance  displayed  in  the  cam 
paign  in  Georgia,  which,  under  Divine  favor,  has  resulted  in  the  cap 
ture  of  Atlanta.  The  marches,  battles,  sieges,  and  other  military 
operations,  that  have  signalized  the  campaign,  must  render  it  famous 
in  the  annals  of  war,  and  have  entitled  those  who  have  participated 
therein  to  the  applause  and  thanks  of  the  nation. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

President  of  the  United  States. 

City  Point,  Virginia,  September  4th,  1864. 
Major  General  Sherman: 

I  have  just  received  your  dispatch  announcing  the  capture  of 
Atlanta.  In  honor  of  your  great  victory  I  have  ordered  a  salute  to  be 
fired  with  shotted  guns  from  every  battery  bearing  upon  the  enemy. 
The  salute  will  be  fired  within  an  hour,  amia  great  rejoicing. 

U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant  General. 

The  reading  of  these  dispatches  to  the  men  at  dress  parade 
called  forth  the  most  hearty  cheers  from  the  men  of  the  various  regi 
ments,  who  of  all  others  should  have  the  nation's  gratitude  for  this 
endurance  and  prolonged  and  faithful  efforts  resulting  in  the  great 
victory. 

September  10th.  Remained  quietly  in  camp;  men  took  advantage 
of  the  opportunity  to  clean  up  their  clothes  and  wash  themselves  up  and 
build  shebangs  to  make  themselves  as  comfortable  as  possible  with 
material  to  be  had.  llth.  Laid  in  camp  all  day  and  rested;  in  the 
evening  had  dress  parade,  first  for  a  long  time.  12th.  Remained  in 
ca.mp  all  day  taking  it  easy;  light  details  for  camp  guard;  had  com 
pany  inspection  in  the  afternoon.  13th.  All  quiet  in  camp;  heavy 
mail  from  the  north,  first  we  have  had  for  nearly  a  month.  14th. 
Still  resting  in  camp.  Had  general  inspection  in  the  afternoon.  Men 
getting  rested,  cleaned  up  and  look  more  like  soldiers;  dress  parade 
in  the  evening.  15th.  All  quiet  on  the  Chattahoochee,  doing  regular 
camp  duty,  dress  parade  each  evening.  IGth.  Remained  in  statu  quo, 
doing  regular  routine  duty,  resting  and  making  ourselves  as  com 
fortable  as  possible  under  the  circumstances.  17th.  In  camp  resting, 
washing  and  preparing  for  regular  Sunday  inspection.  Sunday,  the 
18th.  Inspection,  heavy  rain  afterwards.  Promised  pay  long  past  due. 
19th.  In  camp,  supplies  coming  forward  from  Chattanooga,  small 
amount  of  clothing  distributed,  more  promised  soon  which  is  very 
much  needed.  20th.  Broke  camp  and  marched  to  Atlanta.  21st. 
Camped  in  the  city  of  Atlanta;  regiment  detailed  to  put  up  tents  and 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  189 

police  ground  for  field  hospital  for  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  At 
the  field  hospital  one  of  the  men  died  in  the  night.  The  Chaplain  took 
the  nurse  to  task  for  not  calling  him  to  administer  spiritual  consola 
tion  before  he  died.  The  nurse's  excuse  was,  that  he  thought  he 
cc-.ild  do  it  himself  and  not  disturb  the  Chaplain's  rest.  The  Chaplain 
asked  him  what  he  said  to  console  him.  "On,"  he  said,  "I  told  him 
the  Lord  in  His  wisdom  had  planned  but  for  two  places  to  go  to,  Heaven 
and  Hell;  and  as  he  had  not  lived  such  a  life  as  would  entitle  him  to 
fro  to  the  former,  he  would  have  to  go  to  hell;  and  he  ought  to  be 
thankful  that  the  Lord  had  prepared  a  place  for  him  at  all."  Contin 
ued  on  detail  working  at  field  hospital  until  Monday  the  26th,  when 
we  broke  camp  at  noon  and  embarked  on  cars  and  went  to  Ackworth 
and  following  day  took  train  again  fcr  Rome,  arriving  on  the  27th, 
went  into  camp  near  the  city.  28th.  Laid  around  all  day  awaiting  the 
arrival  of  our  camp  and  garrison  equipage.  "Rained,  no  tents  for  pro 
tection  against  the  weather.  29th.  Rained  all  day.  30th.  Remained 
in  camp  all  quiet;  a  lot  of  men  in  the  guard  house  for  going  to  town 
without  leave.  October  1st,  1864.  Moved  camp  to  hill  overlooking 
city;  policed  ground  ready  for  tents.  2nd.  Drew  few  tents  and  fixed 
up  quarters;  weather  continues  wet  and  disagreeable.  3rd.  All  quiet 
fixing  up  tents  and  quarters  and  doing  routine  duty  and  guard.  4th. 
Ordered  into  line  of  march,  went  to  depot,  stacked  arms  waiting  for 
train.  Wednesday,  5th.  Second  brigade  loaded  on  cars  hurriedly 
and  started  for  Allatoona,  followed  by  our  brigade  under  command  of 
Colonel  Martin  of  the  66th  Indiana,  General  Rice  being  sick.  Bridge 
damaged  by  train  ahead  with  2nd  Brigade  and  we  had  to  debark 
near  Kingston  and  march  the  balance  of  tlie  way,  so  did  not  arrive  to 
take  active  part  in  the  battle  of  Allatoona,  our  threatened  approach 
in  the  rear  of  the  attacking  force,  together  with  reinforcements  coming 
from  the  south  probably  caused  Hood  to  hurriedly  abandon  the  field, 
giving  us  a  bloody  victory.  We  did  not  arrive  on  the  battlefield  until 
after  dark,  where  we  bivouaced  in  a  pittiless  rain  all  night  without 
shelter  among  the  dead,  killed  in  the  battle.  Jerome  Hunt  of  our 
regiment,  according  to  official  report,  was  killed;  otherwise  the  regi 
ment  met  with  no  casualties.  We  were  accorded  the  right  to  inscribe 
on  our  flag  "Allatoona"  as  we  were  there  as  ordered,  but  not  in  time 
to  participate,  on  account  of  the  accident  on  the  railroad.  There  has 
been  a  good  deal  of  foolishness  and  gush  written  about  that  battle 
in  reference  to  messages  wig-wagged  and  signaled  by  General  Corse 
and  General  Sherman  that  never  occured.  I  got  the  name  of  be 
ing  an  iconaclast  because  I  took  the  trouble  to  look  the  matter  up,  ver 
ify  the  truth,  and  publish  the  same  some  years  ago.  In  the  interest  of 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  189 

police  ground  for  field  hospital  for  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  At 
the  field  hospital  one  of  the  men  died  in  the  night.  The  Chaplain  took 
the  nurse  to  task  for  not  calling  him  to  administer  spiritual  consola 
tion  before  he  died.  The  nurse's  excuse  was,  that  he  thought  he 
cc-.ild  do  it  himself  and  not  disturb  the  Chaplain's  rest.  The  Chaplain 
asked  him  what  he  said  to  console  him.  "On,"  he  said,  "I  told  him 
the  Lord  in  His  wisdom  had  planned  but  for  two  places  to  go  to,  Heaven 
and  Hell;  and  as  he  had  not  lived  such  a  life  as  would  entitle  him  to 
fro  to  the  former,  he  would  have  to  go  to  hell;  and  he  ought  to  be 
thankful  that  the  Lord  had  prepared  a  place  for  him  at  all."  Contin 
ued  on  detail  working  at  field  hospital  until  Monday  the  26th,  when 
we  broke  camp  at  noon  and  embarked  on  cars  and  went  to  Ackworth 
and  following  day  took  train  again  for  Rome,  arriving  on  the  27th, 
went  into  camp  near  the  city.  28th.  Laid  around  all  day  awaiting  the 
arrivel  of  our  camp  and  garrison  equipage.  Tlained,  no  tents  for  pro 
tection  against  the  weather.  29th.  Rained  all  day.  30th.  Remained 
in  camp  all  quiet;  a  lot  of  men  in  the  guard  house  for  going  to  town 
without  leave.  October  1st,  1864.  Moved  camp  to  hill  overlooking 
city;  policed  ground  ready  for  tents.  2nd.  Drew  few  tents  and  fixed 
up  quarters;  weather  continues  wet  and  disagreeable.  3rd.  All  quiet 
fixing  up  tents  and  quarters  and  doing  routine  duty  and  guard.  4th. 
Ordered  into  line  of  march,  went  to  depot,  stacked  arms  waiting  for 
train.  Wednesday,  5th.  Second  brigade  loaded  on  cars  hurriedly 
and  started  for  Allatoona,  followed  by  our  brigade  under  command  of 
Colonel  Martin  of  the  66th  Indiana,  General  Rice  being  sick.  Bridge 
dsmaged  by  train  ahead  with  2nd  Brigade  and  we  had  to  debark 
near  Kingston  and  march  the  balance  of  the  way,  so  did  not  arrive  to 
take  active  part  in  the  battle  of  Allatoona,  our  threatened  approach 
in  the  rear  of  the  attacking  force,  together  with  reinforcements  coming 
from  the  south  probably  caused  Hood  to  hurriedly  abandon  the  field, 
giving  us  a  bloody  victory.  We  did  not  arrive  on  the  battlefield  until 
after  dark,  where  we  bivouaced  in  a  pittiless  rain  all  night  without 
shelter  among  the  dead,  killed  in  the  battle.  Jerome  Hunt  of  our 
regiment,  according  to  official  report,  was  killed;  otherv/ise  the  regi 
ment  met  with  no  casualties.  We  were  accorded  the  right  to  inscribe 
on  our  flag  "Allatoona"  as  we  were  there  as  ordered,  but  not  in  time 
to  participate,  on  account  of  the  accident  on  the  railroad.  There  has 
been  a  good  deal  of  foolishness  and  gush  written  about  that  battle 
in  reference  to  messages  wig-wagged  and  signaled  by  General  Corse 
and  General  Sherman  that  never  occured.  I  got  the  name  of  be 
ing  an  iconaclast  because  I  took  the  trouble  to  look  the  matter  up,  ver 
ify  the  truth,  and  publish  the  same  some  years  ago.  In  the  interest  of 


190  HISTORY    OP    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

history  and  fact,  I  insert  an  article  by  myself,  published  in  the  Des 
Moines  Capital  December  19th,  1895: 

"HOLD  THE  FORT." 

FURTHER    DISCUSSION    AS    TO    WHO    WAVED    THE    SIGNAL   AT 

KENESAW. 

Editor  Daily  Capital:  As  the  question  of  who  and  how  the  his 
toric  dispatches  were  sent  from  Kenesaw  to  Allatoona  is  up  for  discus 
sion  in  the  Capital,  and  Captain  Adams  the  signal  officer  at  one  end 
of  the  line  has  been  heard  from,  I  wish  to  submit  Captain  Cole's  letter, 
the  signal  officer  in  charge  at  the  other  end  of  the  line,  both  of  whom 
were  there  and  ought  to  know  what  they  are  subscribing  to,  and  I 
think  they  do. 

It  is  almost  too  bad  to  smash  the  idols  and  spoil  a  good  story, 
but  as  a  matter  of  fact  no  such  message  as  "Hold  the  Fort,  I  am  Com 
ing,"  was  ever  sent  by  Sherman  to  General  Corse  at  that  or  any  other 
time,  but  it  was  a  poetical  effusion  which  originated  in -the  fertile 
brain  of  a  gospel  hymn  singer. 

In  the  official  records  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  public  docu 
ments  published  and  tabulated  under-  the  direction  of  the  secretary  of 
war,  and  furnished  free  to  all  the  libraries  in  the  United  States,  are 
printed  all  the  official  reports,  orders,  communications  and  dispatches, 
whether  sent  by  telegraph,  signal,  courier  or  otherwise,  of  all  the 
campaigns  and  battles  of  the  war  (both  union  and  confederate).  In 
series  1,  volume  39,  part  3,  pages  88,  96,  97  and  113  are  copies  of  all  dis 
patches  sent  to  and  from  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  Allatoona  during  or 
about  that  battle,  which  are  as  follows: 

Allatoona,  Ga.,  Oct.  5,  1864. 
FIRST. 

Signal  Officer  Kenesaw — General  Corse  is  here.  Where  is  Gen 
eral  Sherman? 

(Signed:)          ADAMS,  Signal  Officer. 

SECOND. 

General  Sherman — Corse  is  here. 

(Signed:)  TOURTELLETTE,  Lieut.  Col.  Commanding. 

THIRD. 

8  a.  m. — We  held  out.    General  Corse  here. 

(Signed:)          ADAMS,  Signal  Officer. 


SERGEANT  McKENZIE  WIG-WAGGING  THE  SIGNALS, 
at  Battle  of  Allatoona. 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  191 

FOURTH. 

4  p    m — \ve  still  hold  out.     General  Corse  is  wounded. 

(Signed:)  ADAMS,  Signal  Officer. 

FIFTH. 

We  are  all   right,   so  far.     General   Corse  is  wounded.  '  Where  is 

General  Sherman? 

(Signed:)          ADAMS,  Signal  Officer. 

SIXTH. 

Kenesaw  Mountain,  Oct.  5,  1864. 

Commanding   Officer   Allatoona — Near    You. 

(No  Signature.) 

SEVENTH. 

Kenesaw  Mountain,  Oct.  5,  1864. 

Tell  Allatoona  hold  on.  General  Sherman  says  he  is  working 
hard  for  you. 

(No  Signature.) 

EIGHTH. 

Kenesaw  Mountain,  Oct.  6,  1864. 
Allatoona:      How  is  Corse?     What  news? 

DAYTON,  Aid-de-camp. 

NINTH. 
Rec'd  3:15  p.  m. 

Allatoona,  Ga.,  Oct.  6,  1864,  2  p.  m. 

Captain  L.  M.  Dayton,  Aid-de-camp:  I  am  short  a  cheek  bone 
and  one  ear,  but  am  able  to  whip  all  hell  yet.  My  losses  are  heavy. 
A  force  moving  from  Stiles'joro  on  Kingston  gives  me  some  anxiety. 
Tell  me  where  Sherman  is. 

JOHN  M.  CORSE,  Brigadier  General. 

In  part  1  of  same  volume  on  page  397  is  Lieutenant  Adams'  re 
port  of  the  part  taken  by  his  detachment  of  the  signal  corps  during 
the  battle,  to  Lieutenant  Sherry,  signal  corps,  United  States  army, 
commanding  detachment,  15th  A.C.,  from  which  I  extract  the  following: 

Allatoona,  Ga.,  Oct.  5,  1864.—*  *  *  At  9  a.  m.  the  enemy  had  us 
surrounded  on  every  approachable  side,  and  the  engagement  became 
general.  As  soon  as  I  could  see  Kenesaw  I  called  and  sent  them  a  mes 
sage,  stating  the  arrival  of  our  reinforcements,  etc.  This  was  about  10 
a.  m.  and  after  I  had  moved  over  to  the  fort  with  my  flag.  This  message 
was  flagged  under  a  sharp  fire,  and  I  wish  to  make  special  mention  of 


192  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

the  coolness  and  bravery  of  J.  W.  McKenzie,  acting  sergeant,  and 
Frank  A.  West  of  the  signal  corps.  West  was  on  his  way  to  join  his 
party  at  the  front,  and  happened  to  be  detained  here  on  account  of 
the  railroad  being  cut.  I  was  not  aware  of  his  presence  until  I  saw 
him  voluntarily  get  up  on  top  of  the  works  and  relieve  McKenzie  at 
the  flag.  The  message  was  flagged  with  remarkable  coolness  and  ac 
curacy  by  these  two  men.  *  *  * 

I  sent  a  message  to  General  Sherman  that  we  were  all  right, 
and  General  Corse  was  wounded.  *  *  *  R.  O.  McGinty  and  A.  F.  Fuller 
flagged  this  message  from  the  top  of  the  fort.  I  have  not  a  word  of 
censure  for  any  man  of  the  detachment.  When  I  moved  to  the  fort 
I  took  three  men  with  me  to  flag;  the  balance  (nine  men)  I  instructed 
to  see  to  their  revolvers  and  get  into  the  rifle  pits;  also  if  they  saw 
a  man  wounded  not  to  let  his  musket  lay  idle.  After  the  fight  was  over 
I  came  back  to  my  old  place.  I  found  that  each  of  the  men  had  mus 
kets,  and  had  fired  each  from  thirty  to  ninety  rounds  of  cartridges.  *** 

(Signed)  J.  Q.  ADAMS. 

Second  Lieutenant  Signal  Corps,  U.  S.  Army  Commanding  Detachment. 

Above  is  a  portion  of  the  official  record  made  on  the  spot,  and 
just  after  the  battle  by  officers  in  command,  which  is  indisputable  and 
cannot  be  controverted,  which  shows  Judge  McKenzie  to  have  been 
a  brave  and  intelligent  young  soldier,  who  did  his  whole  duty,  but  the 
trouble  is  Judge  McKenzie's  over-zealous  friends  are  claiming  too 
much  for  him,  and  in  the  John  H.  King  letter  resurrected  by  J.  F. 
Lewis  the  balance  of  the  detachment  are  done  an  injustice  and  made 
out  to  be  a  squad  or  shirks  and  cowards  and  a  discredit  to  the  service. 
The  article  has  more  the  appearance  of  making  King  the  cham 
pion  than  McKenzie  the  hero,  and  is  a  ridiculous  and  absurd  article 
written  by  one  who  never  was  in  the  service  or  knew  anything  about  it 
is  shown  on  the  face  of  it. 

At  the  services  of  the  dedication  of  the  Chickamauga  battlefield 
at  Chattanooga  last  September  one  Sergeant  Frankenberg  was  brought 
upon  the  platform,  and  introduced  as  being  the  party  who  sent  these 
important  and  celebrated  messages  from  Kenesaw  Mountain  to  Alla- 
toona,  and  he  exhibited  the  identical  flag  he  used  at  the  time;  when 
up  jumps  the  Hampton  Recorder,  published  at  the  home  of  the  late 
Judge  McKenzie,  and  claims  Sergeant  Frankenberg  a  fraud,  and  that 
Judge  McKenzie  was  the  one  who  did  it,when  as  a  matter  of  fact  he  only 
claimed  to  be  the  other  end  of  the  line  at  Allatoona,  twenty  miles 
away  at  the  time,  and  Hood's  rebel  army  between  him  and  Kenesaw. 

I  belonged  to  General  Corse's  division,  was  at  Allatoona  and 
talked  with  Judge  McKenzie  the  next  day  after  the  battle,  was  person- 


BRIG.  GEN.  JOHN   M.  CORSE. 
Hero  of  Allatuona. 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  193 

ally  acquainted  with  him  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  and  he  never 
made  such  statements  or  claims  to  me  and  I  Taelieve  him  to  have  been 
too  brave,  honorable  and  modest  a  soldier  and  conscientious  a  citizen 
to  have  made  them  to  anyone  else.  I  was  at  Allafoona  Gap  last  Sep 
tember  in  company  with  a  squad  of  the  Seventh  Illinois  and  Thirty- 
ninth  Iowa  who  participated  in  the  bloouy  battle.  We  went  over  the 
ground  and  discussed  the  fight  and  Judge  McKenzie's  bravery,  point 
ing  out  the  identical  spot  on  the  ramparts  where  he  and  West  stood. 
There  was  nothing  said  or  known  about  the  lack  of  courage  or  re 
fusal  of  the  others  to  do  their  duty. 

H.  I.   SMITH. 

Captain  Cole  and  Lieut.  Adams,  signal  officers  in  charge  when 
all  the  messages  were  sent,  the  former  at  Kcnesaw  Mountain,  and  the 
latter  at  Allatoona,  both  substantiate  the  truth  of  the  foregoing. 

If  there  is  any  doubt  that  the  Gospe'l  hymn  was  not  inspired  by 
the  incident  and  messages  sent  at  the  battle  of  Allatoona,  attention  is 
called  to  the  book  of  Gospel  hymn's  and  to  the  hymn  "Hold  the  Fort, 
I  am  Coming"  itself,  at  the  head  of  which  is  the  quotation  from  2nd 
chapter  of  Corinthians,  25th  verse,  reading,  "That  which  ye  have  al 
ready  hold  fast  till  I  come,"  suggesting  the  fact  that  the  hymn  was 
inspired  by  the  sentiment  in  that  passage.  There  is  certainly  nothing 
in  General  Corse's  sulphuric  reply,  when  he  sent  the  answer  to  General 
French  when  a  demand  for  his  surrender  was  received,  that  he  would 
"whip  hell  out  of  him  yet,"  that  would  make  good  material  for  Gospel 
hymns  or  Sunday  school  literature. 

On  the  6th  camped  on  battlefield  and  assisted  in  burying  the 
dead.  7th  Illinois  and  39th  Iowa's  loss  was  most  severe.  Lieut.  Blod- 
gett  of  the  39th,  who  had  commanded  our  battery  so  creditably  all 
through  the  campaign  and  had  been  promoted  to  Major  a  few  days 
before  and  returned  to  his  regiment,  was  killed,  together  with  Lieut. 
Col.  Redfield  of  that  regiment,  and  the  7th  Ills,  boys  literally  laid  in 
rows  where  they  were  killed  in  the  rifle  pits  which  curtained  the 
redan  into  which  our  men  were  driven  by  the  impact  of  the  deter 
mined  and  desperate  charge  of  the  enemy.  On  the  7th  we  were  hur 
riedly  started  on  our  return  to  Rome,  as  the  whole  rebel  army  seemed 
to  be  headed  in  that  direction,  arriving  at  Cartersville  that  evening. 
On  the  8th  marched  from  Cartersville  to  Kingston,  arriving  at  Rome  on 
the  9th,  where  we  resumed  our  old  camp.  llth.  Could  see  the  enemy 
by  the  columns  of  dust  passing 'in  force  to  the  west,  with  straggling 
cavalry  skirting  the  hills  in  sight,  our  force  was  too  small  to  in 
tercept  them;  the  balance  of  our  corps  together  with  other  troops 
were  in  their  rear  hurriedly  prodding  tnem  along,  llth.  Remained 
Jn  camp  in  statu  quo.  Same  on  the  12th.  Lieut.  H.  I.  Smith  detailed 


194  HISTORY    OF   THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

as  acting  Adujutant  of  the  regiment  on  account  of  the  sickness  of 
Adjutant  Cameron.  13th.  Regiment  ordered  out  in  the  direction  of 
the  enemy,  reconnoitering;  went  as  far  as  Cave  Springs  without  en 
countering  the  enemy,  excepting  a  few  straggling  cavalry,  who  quickly 
retreated  on  our  appearance.  Returned  to  camp  at  night.  14th.  Re 
mained  in  camp  all  day,  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  took  their 
turn  reconnoitering  with  about  the  same  results.  15th.  Marched  out 
in  a  northwest  direction  scouting,  returning  to  camp  at  night.  16th 
remained  in  camp  all  day;  had  regimental  inspection.  17th.  Had 
company  drill  and  dress  parade.  Received  orders  to  march  with  one 
day's  rations.  18th.  Moved  out  at  5  o'clocK  in  the  direction  of  Cedar 
Bluffs,  returning  in  the  evening.  19th.  Reported  the  enemy  is  ad 
vancing  upon  us.  20th.  All  quiet  in  camp.  21st.  Same.  22nd  and 
23rd  remained  in  camp  in  statu  quo.  24th.  Moved  out  early  in  the 
morning;  camped  at  Cedar  Gap.  25th.  Marched  back  to  Rome.  26th. 
Remained  in  camp  doing  routine  duty  until  Nov.  5th,  when  we  were 
paid  off.  No  change  until  the  8th,  when  we  had  election;  the  regi 
ment  casting  344  votes,  Lincoln  receiving  342  votes  and  McClellan 
getting  two.  Remained  in  camp  9th  and  10th. 


MARCH  FROM  ATLANTA  TO  THE  SEA. 

Sherman's  plans  for  his  future  campaign  were  entirely  original 
and  his  own,  being  altogether  different  from  the  science  of  war  as 
laid  down  in  the  text  books  taught  in  the  schools  and  were  regarded 
with  misgivings  by  General  Grant  and  others  in  authority  and  only 
reluctantly  consented  to  after  repeated  urging  by  Sherman.  It  was 
regarded  as  an  experiment  and  a  novel  procedure  to  cut  loose,  abandon 
a  base,  burn  bridges  behind  you  and  proceed  through  the  enemy's  coun 
try  without  a  definite  objective  point.  But,  as  Sherman  said,  "I 
can  make  the  march  and  make  Georgia  howl."  And  again:  "Hood 
may  turn  into  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  but  I  believe  he  will  be  forced 
to  follow  me.  Instead  of  being  on  the  defensive  I  would  be  on  the 
offensive.  Instead  of  guessing  at  what  he  means,  he  would  have  to 
guess  at  my  plans.  The  difference  in  war  is  fully  twenty-five  per  cent. 
I  can  make  Savannah,  Charleston,  or  the  mouth  of  the  Chattahoochee. 
I  prefer  to  march  through  Georgia,  smashing  things  to  the  sea."  He 
now  proposed  to  General  Grant  to  modify  his  plans,  so  as  to  give  the 
ehoice  of  either  of  the  three  alternatives  just  named. 

"I  must  have  alternatives,"  he  said;  "else  being  confined  to  one 
route  the  enemy  might  so  oppose  that  delay  and  want  would  trouble 
me;  but  having  alternatives,  I  can  take  so  eccentric  a  course  that  no 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  195 

general  can  guess  at  my  objective.  Therefore,  when  you  hear  I  am 
off,  have  lookouts  at,  Morris  Island,  S.  C. ;  Ossaba  Sound,  Ga.;  Pensacola 
and  Mobile  bays.  •  I  will  turn  up  somewhere,  and  believe  me  I  can 
take  Macon,  Milledgeville,  Augusta  and  Savannah,  and  wind  up  with 
closing  the  neck  back  of  Charleston,  so  that  they  will  starve  out. 
This  movement  is  not  purely  military  or  strategic,  but  it  will  illus 
trate  the  vulnerability  of  the  South." 

General  Grant  promptly  authorized  the  proposed  movement, 
indicating,  however,  his  preference  for  Savannah  as  the  objective, 
and  fixing  Dalton  as  the  northern  limit  for  the  destruction  of  the 
railway.  Preparations  were  instantly  undertaken  and  pressed  forward 
for  the  consummation  of  these  plans. 

On  the  26th  of  October,  Sherman  detached  the  Fourth  Corps 
under  Maj.  General  Stanley,  and  ordered  him  to  proceed  to  Chat- 
anooga  and  report  to  General  Thomas  at  Nashville.  On  the  30th  of 
October,  he  also  detached  the  Twenty-third  corps,  Major  General 
Schofield,  with  the  same  destination,  and  delegated  to  Maj.  Gen.  Thomas 
full  power  over  the  troops,  except  the  four  corps  with  which  he  himself  de 
signed  to  move  into  Georgia;  together  with  a  division  of  cavalry  under 
General  Kilpatrick. 

The  ranks  of  the  veteran  regiments  were  very  much  depleted 
about  this  time  by  the  mustering  out  of  those  who  did  not  re-enlist,  and 
the  army  reduced  in  strength  by  the  mustering  out  of  regiments  whose 
term  of  service  had  expired. 

The  army  organized  for  the  march  to  the  sea,  were  practically 
men  who  volunteered  for  the  hazardous  campaign;  having  full  faith 
in  their  commander,  that  he  would  lead  them  to  victory  and  success; 
any  one  offering  the  least  excuse,  feigning  sickness  or  fear,  were 
allowed  to  go  back  for  garrison  or  post  duty;  they  were  men  made  of 
heroic  stuff,  robust  and  stalwart,  willing  to  undergo  with  fearless 
abandon,  hardship  or  danger  and  follow  their  leader.  They  were  to 
go  in  light  marching  order,  stripped  to  the  buff,  as  it  were,  and  were 
a  host  unto  themselves: 

Men  of  iron,  of  lusty  brain  and  brawn, 

And  never  did  they  worry  'gainst  the  coming  of  the  dawn, 
But  buckled  on  their  harness  as  befitted  those  of  might 
That  cared  but  for  the  out-tide  and  a  field  of  bitter  fight. 

They  were  the  survival  of  the  fittest,  that  long  and  arduous 
marches,  military  training  and  privations  had  made  them  seasoned 
warriors;  animated  by  indomitable  debonnair  spirit,  glad  and  free, 
with  every  faculty  alive,  with  intelligence,  clear  heads,  willing  to  do 
and  dare.  Not  reckless  vagabonds  without  faith,  courage  or  loyalty; 
not  swashbuckling,  freebooting  adventurers,  organized  for  plunder 


196  HISTORY    OF   THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

and  cruelty;   but  intelligent,  gentlemanly  soldiers,  most  of  them  fit  to 
adorn  any  society. 

The  following  order  issued  by  General  Sherman  just  before  em 
barking  on  the  campaign  will  best  give  his  idea  of  the  expedition: 

General  Thomas  was  now  at  Nashville,  and  Scofield  enroute  near 
Pulaski,  Tennessee,  ready  to  deal  with  Hood  on  his  northwestern  march. 
In  Sherman's  army  there  were  few  non-combatants  and  sick  men. 
There  was  a  goodly  supply  of  ammunition,  but  provisions  were  scanty. 
It  was  the  intention  of  the  army  to  live  off  the  enemy's  country  as 
they  marched  through  it.  Sherman's  orders  for  the  campaign  were 
as  follows: 

"I.  For  the  purpose  of  military  operations,  this  army  is  divid 
ed  into  two  wings,  viz.,  the  right  wing,  Major  General  O.  O.  Howard 
commanding,  composed  of  the  Fifteenth  and  Seventeenth  corps;  the 
left  wing,  Major  General  H.  W.  Slocum  commanding,  composed  of , the 
Fourteenth  and  Twentieth  Corps. 

"II.  The  habitual  order  to  march  will  be,  whenever  practicable, 
by  four  roads,  as  nearly  parallel  as  possible,  and  converging  at  points 
hereafter  to  be  indicated  in  orders.  The  cavalry,  Brigadier-General 
Kilpatrick  commanding,  will  receive  special  orders  from  the  com- 
mander-in-chief. 

"III.  There  will  be  no  general  trains  of  supplies,  but  each  corps 
will  have  its  ammunition  and  provision  trains  distributed  habitually 
as  follows:  Behind  each  regiment  should  follow  one  wagon  and  one 
ambulance;  behind  each  brigade  should  follow  a  due  proportion  of 
ammunition  wagons,  provision  wagons  and  .ambulances.  In  case  of 
danger,  each  army  corps  commander  should  follow  a  due  proportion  of 
march  by  having  his  advance  and  rear  brigade  unencumbered  by  wheels. 
The  separate  columns  will  start  habitually  at  7  a.  m.,  and  make  about 
15  miles  per  day,  unless  otherwise  fixed  in  orders. 

"IV.  The  army  will  forage  liberally  on  the  country  during  the 
march.  To  this  end,  each  brigade  commander  will  organize  a  good  and 
sufficient  foraging  party,  under  the  command  of  one  or  more  discreet 
officers,  who  will  gather  near  the  route  travelled  corn  or  forage  of  any 
kind,  meat  of  any  kind,  vegetables,  corn-meal,  or  whatever  is  needed 
by  the  command,  aiming  at  all  times  to  keep  in  the  wagon  trains  at 
least  ten  days'  provisions  for  the  command,  and  three  days'  forage. 
Soldiers  must  not  enter  the  dwellings  of  the  inhabitants,  or  commit 
any  tresspass;  but  during  the  halt,  or  at  camp,  they  may  be  per 
mitted  to  gather  turnips,  potatoes,  and  other  vegetables,  and  drive 
in  stock  which  is  in  sight  of  their  camp.  To  regular  foraging  parties 
must  be  intrusted  the  gathering  of  provisions  and  forage  at  any  dis 
tance  from  the  road  travelled. 

"V.     To  army  commanders  alone  is  intrusted  the  power  to  de- 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  197 

stroy  mills,  houses,  cotton-gins,  etc.,  and  for  them  this  general  prin 
ciple  is  laid  down:  In  districts  and  neighborhoods  where  the  army  is 
unmolested,  no  destruction  of  such  property  should  be  permitted;  but 
should  guerrillas  or  bushwhackers  molest  our  march,  or  should  the  in 
habitants  burn  bridges,  obstruct  roads,  or  otherwise  manifest  local  hos 
tility,  then  army  corps  commanders  should  order  and  enforce  a  de 
vastation  more  or  less  relentless,  according  to  the  measure  of  such 
hostility. 

"VI.  As  for  horses,  mules,  wagons,  etc.,  belonging  to  the  in 
habitants,  the  cavalry  and  artillery  may  appropriate  freely  and  without 
limit,  discriminating,  however,  between  the  rich,  who  are  usually  hos 
tile,  and  the  poor  and  industrious,  who  are  usually  neutral  or  friendly. 
Foraging  parties  may  also  take  mules  or  horses  to  replace  the  jaded 
animals  of  their  trains,  or  to  serve  as  pack  mules  for  the  regiments  or 
brigades.  In  all  foraging,  of  whatever  kind,  the  parties  engaged  will 
refrain  from  abusive  or  threatening  language,  and  may,  when  the 
officer  in  command  thinks  proper,  give  written  certificates  of  the  facts, 
but  no  receipts,  and  they  will  endeavor  to  leave  with  each  familj  a 
reasonable  portion  for  their  maintenance. 

"VII.  Negroes  who  are  able-bodied,  and  can  be  of  service  to 
the  several  columns,  may  be  taken  along,  but  each  army  commander 
will  bear  in  mind  that  the  question  of  supplies  is  a  very  important 
one,  and  that  his  first  duty  is  to  see  to  those  who  bear  arms. 

"VIII.  The  organization  at  once  of  a  good  pioneer  battalion 
for  each  corps,  composed,  if  possible,  of  negroes,  should  be  attended 
to.  This  battalion  should  follow  the  advance  guard,  should  repair  roads, 
and  double  them  if  possible,  so  that  the  columns  may  not  be  delayed 
on  reaching  bad  places.  Also,  army  commanders  should  study  the 
habit  of  giving  the  artillery  and  wagons  the  road,  and  marching  the 
troops  on  one  si'de,  and  also  instruct  their  troops  to  assist  wogons  at 
steep  hills  or  bad  crossings  of  streams, 

"IX.  Captain  O.  M.  Poe,  chief  engineer,  will  assign  to  each 
wing  of  the  army  a  pontoon  train,  fully  equipped  and  organized,  and 
the  commanders  thereof  will  see  to  its  being  properly  protected  at 
all  times." 

On  November  12th,  at  Cartersville,  Sherman  sat  on  the  edge  of  a 
porch  to  rest.  The  telegraph  wire  had  been  torn  down,  but  the  opera 
tor  connected  the  end  of  it  with  a  small  pocket  instrument  which  he 
held  in  his  hand  as  he  stood  at  Sherman's  side.  A  dispatch  was  re 
ceived  from  Thomas  at  Nashville.  Sherman  answered  it,  "All  right." 
The  wire  was  detached  from  the  instrument,  and  then  a  burning 
bridge  fell  in  ruins,  dragging  down  more  of  the  line,  and  Sherman  was 
absolutely  isolated  from  the  North. 

As  they  marched  away  from  Atlanta,  Slocum's  men  passed  the 


i98  HISTORY   OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

very  spot  where  McPherson  fell,  and  sit  the  moment,  doubtless  with 
a  grim  satisfaction,  looked  back  at  the  pall  of  smoke  that  hung  above 
Atlanta,  as  above  a  fitting  funeral  pyre  for  their  dead  comrade  and 
leader.  Then  some  one  in  the  ranks,  or  one  of  the  bands,  struck  up 
"John  Brown's  Body,"  and  a  minute  later  the  Army  of  Georgia  was 
singing  that  famous  battle  hymn,  and  marching  forward  with  quick 
ened  pace  to  its  inspiring  strains. 

Nov.  4th,  General  Sherman  ordered  General  Corse  as  follows: 
"*  *  *  On  receiving  notice  to  evacuate  Rome  by  telegraph,  of  which 
he  will  give  you  as  much  notice  as  possible,  that  you  destroy  in  the 
most  effective  manner,  by  fire  or  otherwise,  all  bridges,  founderies, 
shops  of  all  kinds  and  description,  barracks,  warehouses  and  build 
ings  especially  adapted  to  armed  use,  lumber  or  timber,  as  also  cars 
off  the  track,  or  material  that  cannot  be  removed,  and  to  move  your 
command  by  Kingston  and  Allatoona  to  Marietta  and  report  to  Gen 
eral  Howard,  commanding  Army  of  Tennessee. 

We  stayed  in  Rome  doing  camp  and  routine  duty  until  Novem 
ber  the  5th,  when  we  were  paid  off.  On  the  8th  we  had  regimental 
election. 

November  llth  we  broke  camp  and  started  on  the  memorable 
march  "From  Atlanta  to  the  Sea."  Being  at  Rome  our  division  had 
fifty  miles  more  to  march  than  the  balance  of  the  army.  General 
Sherman  fearing  the  wagons  might  be  incumbered  with  extra  baggage, 
ordered  that  all  tents,  camp  and  garrison  equipage  that  had  not  been 
sent  to  the  rear  at  that  time  be  burned.  The  wagons  were  only 
loaded  with  ammunition,  hospital  supplies  and  small  amount  of  rations 
in  case  of  need  for  the  sick.  The  army  was  ordered  to  forage  and 
subsist  upon  the  country.  Even  General  Sherman  himself  did  not  take 
a  tent;  his  headquarters  simply  had  a  tent  fly  for  his  Adjutant  Gen 
eral's  office.  All  the  protection  the  men  had  for  the  winter  march  was 
what  they  carried  on  their  backs.  The  writer  was  officer  of  the  picket 
guard  the  night  before  we  started  .and  when  I  returned  to  camp  in  the 
morning  the  regiment  was  in  line  ready  to  march,  everything  in  the 
shape  of  tents,  camp  and  garrison  equipage  had  been  burned,  and  in 
the  shakeup  my  woolen  blanket  was  missing;  so  I  visited  some  of 
the  vacant  houses  to  see  if  I  could  not  find  a  bed  quilt  for  a  substitute, 
but  was  unsucceessful,  but  found  a  feather  bed,  which  I  split  open  and 
emptied  out  the  feathers,  twisted  it  up  and  carried  it  on  my  shoulder 
for  a  blanket  all  through  the  march  to  the  sea;  the  down  came  off, 
stuck  to  my  clothes,  making  me  look  more  like  a  young  robin  than 
an  army  officer;  but  I  loved  my  country  all  the  same.  We  marched 
through  and  three  miles  beyond  Kingston  the  first  day.  On  the  12th 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  199 

we  marched  to  Allatoona  and  bivouaced.  The  13th  we  marched  to 
Marietta  and  camped  at  the  foot  of  Kenesaw  Mountain.  On  the  14th 
marched  to  Chattahoochee  river  and  camped.  On  the  15th  marched 
to  Atlanta,  drew  our  last  rations  and  clothing,  marched  out  three  miles 
beyond,  where  we  joined  the  main  army.  16th  marched  and  camped 
near  Lovejoy  Station.  17th  marched  fifteen  miles,  camping  near  Grif 
fin.  18th  laid  in  camp  all  day,  foragers  detailed  and  sent  out  in  the 
country  for  forage  and  rations;  they  brought  in  a  lot  of  potatoes  and 
meat  which  we  cooked  and  eat,  moving  out  of  camp  at  dark  and  march 
ed  until  midnight  and  camped;  two  men  were  taken  prisoners  that  day. 
19th.  Marched  at  daylight,  crossed  the  Ocmulgee  river  after  dark 
and  camped.  Sunday,  20th.  Marched  to  Monticello,  camped  half  mile 
from  town.  21st.  Marched  to  Hillsboro,  rained  throughout  the  day. 
22nd.  Marched. along  the  Macon  railroad,  roads  very  bad,  trains  and 
artillery  mired  in  the  mud  and  men  detailed  to  help  extricate  them. 
23rd.  Worked  getting  teams  and  artillery  out  of  the  mire  until  noon 
then  moved  out  and  marched  until  midnignt.  24th.  Marched  to  Gor 
don  where  we  went  into  camp  at  noon.  General  Sherman  took  posses 
sion  of  the  State  Capital  at  Milledgeville,  which  they  captured  without 
firing  a  gun.  The  legislature  fled  at  their  approach  without  waiting 
for  the  formality  of  adjournment,  and  the  panic  spread  among  the 
citizens  to  such  an  extent  as  to  depopulate  the  place,  excepting  a  few 
old  men  and  negroes;  the  latter  welcoming  our  approach  with  ecstatic 
exclamations  of  joy.  During  this  time  our  army  was  making  a  feint 
on  Macon.  The  17th  corps  had  a  fight  and  captured  Gordon,  destroying 
a  lot  of  the  Georgia  Central  R.  R.  Kilpatrick  and"  General  Woods 
division  had  quite  a  severe  engagement  also  at  Griswoldville,  defeat 
ing  them  after  a  determined  fight  with  part  of  General  Hardee's  old 
corps,  reinforced  with  state  militia  and  troops  which  came  up  from 
Savannah.  The  enemy's  loss  was  300  killed  and  wounded  and  two 
thousand  prisoners.  This  was  a  severe  lesson  to  them  and  had  a  dis 
couraging  effect.  By  this  time  our  ambulances  became  pretty  well 
loaded  up  with  wounded  as  we  could  not  leave  them  or  the  sick.  25th. 
Marched  through  Irvington,  camping  five  miles  east  of  the  town. 
26th.  Moved  out  at  seven  in  the  morning,  crossed  the  Oconee  river 
at  Moorings  ferry.  Sunday  the  27th.  Out  at  5  o'clock  a.  m.,  marched 
to  the  Georgia  Central  R.  R.,  tore  up  about  five  miles  of  the  track. 
28th.  Marched  at  daylight.  29th.  Country  barren  and  swampy; 
weather  warm,  rations  short.  30th.  Marched  at  daylight;  country 
swampy  and  roads  bad. 

As  it  has  been  charged  by  the  people  of  the  south  that  General 
Sherman  and  his  officers  encouraged  pillaging  and  looting  of  property 
on  the  march,  extracts  are  here  given  from  his  official  orders  pub 
lished  before  the  march  to  refute  the  charge. 


200  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

"The  general  commanding  calls  the  attention  of  all  officers  to  the 
necessity  of  enforcing  the  most  rigid  discipline,  in  order  to  prevent 
straggling,  pillaging,  marauding,  and  the  evils  attendant  upon  the 
evacuating  of  an  important  town. 

"The  provost  marshal  and  officers  of  the  rear  guard  will  exercise 
the  severest  and  most  summary  means  to  prevent  disorder  and  will 
not  hesitate  to  shoot  any  one  caught  firing  private  houses  or  pillaging 
inoffensive  or  helpless  families." 

There  were  many  things  done  by  a  few  on  the  expedition 
that  were  disgraceful,  and  were  deplored  on  the  campaigns,  where 
the  army  was  obliged  to  subsist  upon  the  country,  especially  where 
they  were  required  to  discriminate  between  public  and  private  property 
that  was  to  be  destroyed  which  would  be  of  use  to  the  enemy;  but  every 
effort  was  made  by  those  in  authority  to  suppress  lawlessness  and 
stop  it;  details  of  mounted  men  were  sent  under  humane  officers  to 
arrest  such  characters  and  in  many  instances  whei  caught  they  were 
found  to  consist  of  the  \vorst  element  of  both  armies  joined  together 
for  lawless  purposes,  and  some  of  them  were  found  to  be  convicts  who 
were  liberated  from  the  prisons  of  the  south  on  promise  that  they 
would  join  the  Confederate  army. 

Thursday,  December  1st,  1864.  Marched  at  daylight  parallel  with 
the  Ogechee  river;  swamps  and  low  country,  roads  bad;  very  difficult 
getting  trains  and  artillery  along. 

Friday,  December  2nd,  1864.  Marched  at  daylight;  crossed  the 
Ogechee  river  in  the  afternoon  and  worked  at  destruction  of  railroad 
all  day,  and  the  3rd  crossing  back  and  bivouacing  on  the  other  side 
at  night. 

Sunday,  December  4th,  1864.  Marched  in  southeasterly  direction; 
heavy  firing  to  our  left  and  rear,  as  though  the  enemy  were  getting 
in  our  rear. 

Monday,  December  5th,  1864.  Moved  out  at  daylight;  forced 
march  of  twenty-two  miles  over  sandy  roads. 

Tuesday,  December  6th,  1864.     Laid  still  all  day. 

Wednesday,  December  7th,  1864;  Our  brigade  crossed  over  the 
river,  met  the  enemy's  skirmishers,  drove  them  in,  and  in  a  very  hand 
some  manner  routed  a  battalion  of  rebels  behind  rail  piles,  capturing 
seventeen  prisoners,  and  killing  and  wounding  several  more.  The 
brigade  lost  two  killed  and  three  wounded.  It  then  formed  a  junction 
with  a  brigade  of  Wood's  division  at  Edan  Station. 

Thursday,  December  8th,  1864.  As  the  enemy  was  reported  in 
some  force  near  the  12  mile  post,  having  a  line  of  works  in  his  front, 
General  Howard  resolved  to  turn  his  position  by  sending  two  divisions 
of  our  corps  down  the  west  bank  of  the  Ogechee  to  force  a  crossing 
of  the  Cannouchee,  and  throw  forward  sufficient  detachments  to  break 


ifl 

1^^^ 


SURGEON  E.  EVERINGHAM,  7m  IOWA  INFTY. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  201 

the  Gulf  railway,  and  if  possible  secure  King's  bridge  over  the  Ogechee. 
We  found  the  road  obstructed  with  felled  trees,  which  were  quickly 
removed.  On  reaching  the  Savannah  canal,  the  bridge  over  it  was 
found  to  be  burned;  a  new  one  was  quickly  made,  when  we 
crossed  over.  We  passed  through  some  well  constructed  and  aban 
doned  earthworks  on  the  way.  The  Ogechee  river  at  Dillon's  ferry 
was  found  practicable  for  a  pontoon  bridge.  General  Corse  sent  for 
ward  a  reconnoissance,  which  discovered  the  enemy  in  force  at  the 
junction  of  this  road — King's  bridge  and  Savannah  road. 

The  next  day,  December  9th,  the  Seventeenth  Corps  came  upon 
the  enemy  in  rifle-pits,  three  and  a  half  miles  from  Station  No.  2. 
General  Blair  drove  the  rebels  from  them,  but  soon  came  upon  an  in 
trenched  line  with  guns  in  position.  At  this  place  the  road  led  through 
a  swamp  densely  covered  with  the  wood  and  undergrowth  peculiar  to 
this  region,  and  apparently  impassable;  but  General  Blair  moved  three 
lines  of  battle,  preceded  by  a  skirmish  line,  along  on  the  right  and 
left  of  the  road  for  some  two  or  three  miles,  occasionally  in  water 
knee-deep,  drove  the  enemy  from  every  position  where  he  made  a 
stand,  and  encamped  for  the  night  near  Pooler,  or  Station  No.  1. 
The  detached  brigades  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps  succeeded  in  reaching 
the  Savannah  and  Gulf  railway  at  different  points,  and  destroying  it. 
The  third  division,  General  John  E.  Smith,  closed  up  on  ours  at  the 
canal.  As  soon  as  he  was  within  supporting  distance,  General  Corse 
moved  forward  towards  Savannah.  We  encountered  about  six  hun 
dred  rebel  infantry  with  two  pieces  of  artillery  near  the  cross-roads. 
Our  advance  brigade  quickly  dislodged  them,  capturing  one  piece  of  ar 
tillery  and  several  prisoners.  We  followed  them  up  across  the  .Little 
Ogeechee,  and  by  General  Howard's  direction  took  up  a  strong  position 
about  twelve  miles  from  Savannah,  and  thence  sent  out  a  detachment 
to  break  the  Gulf  railway.  Our  advance  crossed  Little  Ogeechee,  and 
halted  about  eight  miles  from  the  city.  King's  bridge  had  been  burned 
by  the  rebels.  All  the  enemy's  force  was  withdrawn  from  our  corps 
front  in  the  morning,  except  the  independent  garrison  at  Fort  Mc 
Allister,  situated  on  the  right  bank  and  near  the  mouth  of  the  Ogeechee. 
During  the  day  that  section  of  the  pontoon  brfdge  which  had  been 
with  General  Blair's  column,  was  sent  to  Dillon's  Ferry,  near  Fort 
Argyle,  and  laid  across  the  Ogeechee,  thus  substantially  uniting  the 
two  right  columns  of  Howard's  army. 

As  the  coast  neared,  the  surface  of  the  country  became  flat  and 
swampy.  Large  ponds  or  pools  were  met  every  mile  or  so,  and  the 
creeks  spread  out  into  miry  branches.  The  roads  between  the  creeks 
and  ponds,  though  apparently  of  sand,  and  of  substantial  character, 
proved  to  be  upon  a  thin  crust,  which  was  soon  cut  through  by  the 
long  trains  into  the  deep  quicksand,  thus  requiring  miles  of  corduroy. 


202  HISTORY    Of   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

At  several  of  the  swamps,  the  enemy  had  attempted  to  obstruct  the 
inarch  by  felling  timber. 

Baird's  division,  with  Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  was  ordered  to  move 
in  the  direction  of  Waynesboro',  and  after  crossing  Buckhead  Creek, 
to  move  down  the  east  bank  of  that  stream  and  take  position  near 
Reynolds,  not  far  from  Buckhead  bridge. 

On  the  5th,  alter  a  hard  day's  march  over  country  roads,  which  re 
quired  much  repairing,  the  whole  corps,  with  Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  en 
camped  in  the  vicinity  of  Jacksonboro  ,  the  advance  being  Buck  Creek 
Post-office,  on  the  Savannah  road. 

During  the  nightthe  bridge  across  Beaver-dam  Creek,at  Jackson 
boro  ,  which  had  been  destroyed,  was  rebuilt  by  Colonel  Buell,  of  the 
Fifty-eighth  Indiana,  and  his  pontoniers;  and  early  on  the  morning 
of  the  6th,  the  whole  column  marched  on  the  river  road,  and  went  into 
camp  at  and  in  advance  of  Hudson's  Perry,  on  the  Savannah  river, 
making  an  average  march  of  about  twenty  miles. 

On  the  7th,  the  column  moved  in  the  same  order  of  march,  Baird 
and  Kilpatrick,  with  Colonel  Atkins'  brigade,  unencumbered  by  the 
trains,  covering  the  rear.  Morgan's  division,  with  the  pontoon  train, 
reached  Ebenezer  Creek  late  in  the  evening,  and  began  cutting  away 
the  fallen  timber  which  obstructed  the  roadway  through  the  immense 
swamp  which  skirts  the  creeks  on  both  sides  at  this  point.  Notwith 
standing  an  exceedingly  hard  day's  march,  the  pontoniers,  under  Col 
onel  Buell,  set  to  work  at  once  to  reconstruct  the  bridge,  and  by  noon 
the  next  day  the  column  commenced  crossing  this  formidable  defile; 
but  in  spite  of  the  immense  amount  of  labor  expended  upon  the  road 
and  bridge  to  make  them  passable,  much  was  still  required  to  main 
tain  them  in  condition,  and  it  was  not  until  daylight  on  the  9th  that 
the  rear  of  the  column  had  completed  the  crossing. 

During  the  8th,  the  enemy's  cavalry  made  several  attempts  to 
drive  in  the  rear  pickets  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps,  but  did  not  succeed. 
The  loss  in  the  corps  during  these  attacks  was  but  slight,  although  at 
times  the  skirmishing  was  quite  animated. 

On  the  morning  of  the  9th,  the  crossing  of  Ebenezer  Creek  being 
now  completed,  as  already  stated,  the  corps  marched  from  its  camp  at 
Ebenezer  Church  to  Cuyler's  plantation,  where  General  Morgan,  who 
was  in  the  advance,  found  the  enemy  occupying  a  strongly-erected 
field-work,  and  disposed  to  dispute  the  advance.  Morgan  immediately 
placed  two  field-pieces  in  position  and  opened  fire  upon  the  work.  His 
infantry  was  soon  deployed  for  an  attack,  but  the  near  approach  of 
night,  and  the  impossibility  of  assaulting  the  position,  through  the 
impassable  swamp  in  the  front,  caused  General  Davis  to  defer  the  ' 
attack  until  morning,  when  it  was  discovered  the  enemy  had  abandoned 
his  position. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  203 

On  the  10th,  Morgan's  and  Carlin's  divisions,  with  trains,  moved 
to  the  Ten-mile  House,  and  went  into  camp,  giving  the  road  to  the 
Twentieth  Corps,  advancing  from  Montieth  and  intersecting  the 
Augusta  road.  Baird's  division  was  left  to  cover  the  rear,  and  tear  up 
the  railway  track  in  the  vicinity  of  the  crossing  of  the  Savannah  river, 
and  if  possible  to  destroy  the  bridge  at  that  point. 

To  preserve  the  historical  sequence,  it  is  necessary  to  glance 
separately  at  the  movements  of  the  cavalry  division  under  Kilpatrick, 
already  briefly  touched  upon  so  far  as  they  were  directly  connected  with 
the  operations  of  the  several  corps. 

On  the  2nd  of  December,  as  has  been  seen,  Kilpatrick  moved 
from  the  vicinity  of  Louisville,  on  the  Waynesboru  road,  supported 
by  Baird's  division  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  to  cover  the  movement  of 
several  columns  on  Millen.  A  small  force  of  the  enemy  was  encounter- 
de  and  dispersed  by  the  Eighth  Indiana,  Colonel  Jones,  and  the  Fifth 
Kentucky,  Colonel  Baldwin,  nine  miles  from  Waynesboro,  not  with 
out  a  severe  skirmish.  On  reaching  Rocky  Creek,  the  enemy  was 
found  in  considerable  force  on  the  opposite  bank.  Baird's  division 
came  up,  and  a  force  of  both  cavalry  and  infantry  crossed  the  creek 
and  simultaneously  charged  the  enemy,  who  rapidly  retreated  towards 
Waynesboro  and  Augusta,  closely  pursued  for  some  distance  by  the 
cavalry. 

On  the  3rd,  Kilpatrick  marched  to  Thomas'  Station  and  en 
camped  for  the  night,  having  made  such  disposition  of  his  forces  as 
to  protect  Baird's  division,  then  deployed  along  the  railway  and  en 
gaged  in  its  destruction.  Wheeler,  who  had  been  encamped  between 
Waynesboro  and  Briar  Creek,  moved  in  the  early  part  of  the  evening 
to  Waynesboro  ,  and,  with  a  portion  of  his  command,  made  a  vigorous 
attack  upon  one  of  Colonel  Atkins'  regiments,  stationed  upon  the  rail 
way,  three  miles  south  of  town. 

The  enemy  was  found  occupying  a  second  line  of  barricades, 
with  artillery,  as  before,  and  his  flanks  so  far  extended  that  it  was 
useless  to  attempt  to  turn  them.  Kilpatrick  therefore  determined  to 
break  his  center.  Colonel  Murray,  having  the  advance,  was  directed 
to  make  a  disposition  accordingly.  The  Eighth  Indiana,  Colonel  Jones, 
was  dismounted  and  pushed  forward  as  skirmishers;  the  Ninth  Penn 
sylvania,  Colonel  Jordan,  in  columns  of  fours,  by  battalions,  had  the 
left;  the  Third  Kentucky,  Lieut.  Colonel  King,  the  center;  the 
Fifth  Kentucky,  Colonel  Baldwin,  and  Second  Kentucky, 
Captain  Foreman,  the  right.  The  advance  was  sounded,  and  in  less 
than  twenty  minutes  the  enemy  was  driven  from  his  position,  the 
town  gained,  and  Wheeler's  entire  force  completely  routed.  The  Fifth 
Ohio,  Fifth  Kentucky,  and  a  portion  of  the  Ninth  Pennsylvania  Cav 
alry,  followed  in  close  pin  suit  to  Briar  Creek,  a  distance  of  eight  miles 


204  HISTORY    Of    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

from  the  point  from  where  the  first  attack  was  made.  After  burning 
the  bridges  above  and  below  the  railway  bridge,  as  well  as  the  latter, 
the  cavalry  marched  to  Alexander,  on  the  Waynesboro  and  Jack- 
sonboro  road,  and  encamped  for  the  night. 

On  the  5th,  Kilpatrick  marched  from  Alexander  to  Jacksonboro', 
covering  the  rear  of  the  Fourteenth  Army  Corps. 

Thus,  on  the  10th  of  December,  1864,  the  enemy's  forces  under 
Hardee  were  driven  within  the  immediate  defenses  of  Savannah,  and 
Sherman's  entire  army  having  leisurely  marched  over  three  hundred 
miles  in  twenty-four  days  with  trifling  opposition  through  the  vitals 
of  the  enemy's  country,  subsisting  upon  his  stock-yards  and  granaries, 
was  massed  in  front  of  the  city,  entirely  across  the  peninsula  lying  be 
tween  the  Ogeechee  and  Savannah  rivers,  and  occupying  all  lines  of 
railway  communication  and  supply. 

A  CHRISTMAS  GIFT. 

The  defensive  works  constructed  by  the  enemy  to  cover  the  rear 
of  Savannah,  and  now  garrisoned  by  the  Confederate  forces  under 
Lieutenant-General  Hardee,  followed  substantially  a  swampy  creek 
which  empties  into  the  Savannah  River  about  three  miles  above  the 
city,  across  to  the  head  of  a  corresponding  stream  flowing  into  the 
Little  Ogeechee.  These  'streams  proved  singularly  favorable  to  the 
enemy  as  a  cover,  being  very  marshy  and  bordered  by  rice  fields,  which 
were  flooded  either  by  the  tide-water  or  by  inland  ponds,  the  gates 
to  which  were  controlled  and  covered  by  his  heavy  artillery.  The 
only  approaches  to  the  city  were  by  five  narrow  causeways,  namely, 
the  two  railways,  and  the  Augusta,  the  Louisville,  and  the  Ogeechee 
roads,  all  of  which  were  commanded  by  the  enemy's  heavy  ordnance. 

To  assault  an  enemy  of  unknown  strength  at  such  a  disadan- 
tage  appeared  to  Sherman  unwise,  especially  as  he  had  brought  his 
army,  almost  unscathed,  so  great  a  distance,  and  could  surely  attain 
the  same  result  by  the  operation  of  time.  He  therefore  instructed  his 
army  commanders  closely  to  invest  the  city  from  the  north  and  west, 
and  to  reconnoitre  well  the  ground  in  their  respective  fronts,  while  he 
gave  his  personal  attention  to  opening  communications  with  the  flee*, 
which  was  known  to  be  waiting  in  Tybee,  Wassaw,  and  Ossabow 
sounds,  in  accordance  with  the  preconcerted  plan.  Williams'  twen 
tieth  corps  held  the  left  of  the  Union  line,  resting  on  the  Savannah 
river,  near  Williamson's  plantation;  Jefferson  C.  Davis  fourteenth 
corps  was  on  its  right,  extending  from  the  Augusta  railway,  near  its 
junction  with  the  Charlestown  railway,  to  Lawton's  plantation,  be 
yond  the  canal;  Blair's  seventeenth  corps  next,  and  Osterhaus'  fifteenth 
corps  on  the  extreme  right,  with  its  flank  resting  on  the  Gulf  railway, 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  205 

at  Station  No.  1.  General  Kilpatrick  was  instructed  to  cross  the  Ogee- 
chee  by  a  pontoon  bridge,  to  recannoitre  Port  McAllister,  and  to  pro 
ceed  to  St.  Catherine's  Sound,  in  the  direction  of  Sunbury  or  Kilkenny 
Bluff,  and  open  communication  with  the  fleet.  General  Howard  had 
previously  sent  Captain  Duncan,  one  of  his  best  scouts,  down  the 
Ogeechee  in  a  canoe  for  a  like  purpose;  but  it  was  also  necessary  to 
•have  the  ships  and  their  contents,  and  the  Ogeechee  river,  close  to 
the  rear  of  the  camps,  as  the  proper  avenue  of  supply. 

The  enemy  had  burned  King's  bridge  over  the  Ogeechee,  just  below 
the  mouth  of  the  Cannouchee;  but  although  a  thousand  feet  long, 
it  was  reconstructed  in  an  incredibly  short  time,  and  in  the  most  sub 
stantial  manner;  and  on  the  13th  of  December,  Hazen's  division  of 
our  corps  crossed  the  bridge,  gained  the  west  bank  of  the  Ogeechee, 
and  marched  down  the  river  with  orders  to  carry  by  assault  Fort 
McAllister,  a  strong  ineJo?ec!  redoubt,  manned  by  two  companies  of 
artillery  and  three  of  infantry,  numbering  in  all  about  two  hundred 
men,  and  mounting  twenty-three  barbette  guns  and  one  mortar. 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th  of  December,  General  Sherman  and 
General  Howard  went  to  Dr.  Cheves'  rice-mill,  whence  Fort  McAllister 
was  in  full  view.  At  the  rice-mill  a  section  of  DeGrass'  battery  was 
firing  occasionally  at  the  fort  opposite,  three  miles  and  a  half  distant, 
as  a  diversion,  having  for  its  principal  object,  however,  to  attract  the 
attention  of  the  fleet.  During  the  day  the  two  commanders  watched 
the  fort  and  the  bay,  endeavoring  to  catch  glimpes  of  the  division 
moving  upon  the  work,  and  of  the  vessels  belonging  to  the  fleet. 
About  noon,  the  rebel  artillery  at  McAllister  opened  inland,  firing  oc 
casionally  from  three  or  four  different  guns.  By  their  glasses  the 
generals  could  observe  Hazen's  skirmishers  firing  on  the  fort;  and 
about  the  same  time  a  movable  smoke,  like  that  from  a  steamer,  at 
tracted  their  attention  near  the  mouth  of  the  Ogeechee.  . 

Signal  communication  was  established  with  General  Hazen,  who 
gave  notice  that  he  had  invested  the  fort,  and  also  that  he  observed 
the  steamer.  General  Sherman  signalled  him  from  the  top  of  the  mill 
that  it  was  important  to  carry  the  fort  by  assault  that  day. 

The  steamer  had  approached  near  enough  to  draw  the  fire  of 
tlie  fort  when  her  signal-flag  was  descried.  Captain  McClintock,  of 
the  Signal  Corps,  aided  by  Lieutenant  Sampson,  speedily  communi 
cated  with  the  vessel,  and  ascertained  that  she  was  a  tug,  sent  by 
General  Foster  and  Admiral  Dahlgren  for  the  purpose  of  communi 
cating  with  the  army.  The  signal-officer  of  the  steamer  inquired,  "Is 
McAllister  ours?" 

Just  at  that  moment  a  brisk  firing  was  observed  at  tke  fort. 
Hazen  had  sounded  the  charge,  and  instantly  his  brave  division  had 
rushed  through  the  torpedoes  and  abattis  which  obstructed  the  ap- 


206  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

proach  to  the  fort,  and  gaining  the  parapet,  after  a  hand-to-hand  strug 
gle  of  a  few  moments'  deration,  the  garrison  had  surrendered. 

From  their  position  at  the  rice-mill,  Sherman  and  Howard 
could  see  the  men  discharge  their  pieces  in  the  air,  and  hear  their 
shout  of  triumph  as  they  took  possession  of  the  fort  and  raised  the 
old  flag  over  their  conquest. 

Hazen's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  about  ninety  men,  while 
the  garrison  lost  between  forty  and  fifty,  killed  and  wounded;  and  the 
remainder,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  in  number,  were  captured, 
together  with  twenty-two  pieces  of  artillery  and  a  large  quantity 
of  ammunition. 

The  substantial  fruit  of  this  victory,  however,  was  to  be  found 
in  the  fact  that  communication  with  the  sea  was  established,  and  the 
prompt  receipt  of  supplies  secured. 

As  soon  as  he  saw  the  Union  colors  planted  upon  the  walls  of 
the  fort,  Sherman  ordered  a  boat,  and,  accompanied  by  General  How 
ard,  went  down  to  the  fort,  and  there  met  General  Hazen,  who  had  not 
yet  communicated  with  the  steamer,  nor  indeed  seen  her,  as  the  view 
was  interrupted  by  some  trees.  Determined  to  communicate  that 
night  with  the  fleet,  Sherman  got  into  another  boat,  and  caused  him 
self  to  be  rowed  down  the  Ogeechee,  until  he  met  the  navy  tug-boat 
Dandelion,  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Commander  Williamson,  who 
informed  him  that  Captain  Duncan,  who,  it  will  be  remembered,  was 
sent  down  the  river  a  few  days  previously  by  General  Howard,  had 
safely  reached  Major-General  Foster  and  Rear-Admiral  Dahlgren, 
commanding  the  land  and  naval  forces  on  the  South  Atlantic  coast, 
and  that  these  officers  were  hourly  expected  *to  arrive  in  Ossabaw 
Sound,  where  the  Dandelion  was  then  lying. 

At  mdriight,  Sherman  wrote  brief  notes  to  General  Foster  and 
the  admiral,  and  a  dispatch  to  the  secretary  of  war,  recounting  the 
main  facts  of  the  campaign,  and  the  present  situation. 

"The  weather  has  been  fine,"  he  said  to  Mr.  Stanton,  "and  sup 
plies  are  abundant.  Our  march  was  most  agreeable,  and  we  were  not 
at  all  molested  by  guerrillas  .....  We  have  not  lost  a  wagon  on 
the  trip,  but  have  gathered  in  a  large  supply  of  negroes,  mules,  horses, 
etc.,  and  our  trains  are  in  far  better  condition  than  when  we  started. 
My  first  duty  will  be  to  clear  the  army  of  surplus  negroes,  mules, 
and  horses  .....  The  quick  work  made  with  McAllister,  and 
the  opening  of  communication  with  our  fleet,  and  the  consequent 
independence  for  supplies,  dissipates  all  their  boasted  threats  to 
head  me  off  and  starve  the  army.  I  regard  Savannah  as  already 


He  then   returned  to  Fort  McAllister,  and  before  daylight  was 
overtaken  by  Major  Strong,  of  General  Foster's  staff,  with  intelligence 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  207 

that  General  Foster  had  arrived  in  the  Ogeechee,  near  Fort  McAllister, 
and  was  very  anxious  to  meet  General  Sherman  on  board  his  boat. 
Sherman  accordingly  returned  with  the  major,  and  met  General  Foster 
on  board  the  steamer  Nemaha;  and,  after  consultation,  determined 
to  proceed  with  him  down  the  sound,  in  hopes  of  meeting  Admiral 
Dahlgren,  which,  however,  they  did  not  do  until  about  noon,  in  Wassaw 
Sound.  General  Sherman  there  went  on  board  the  admiral's  flagship, 
the  Harvest  Moon,  after  having  arranged  with  General  Foster  to 
send  from  Hilton  Head  some  siege  ordnance  and  boats  suitable  for 
navigating  the  Ogeechee  river.  Admiral  Dahlgren  furnished  all  the 
data  concerning  his  fleet  and  the  numerous  forts  that  guarded  the 
inland  channels  between  the  sea  and  Savannah;  and  Sherman  ex 
plained  to  him  how  completely  Savannah  was  invested  at  all  points, 
save  only  the  plank-road  on  the  South  Carolina  shore,  known  as  the 
"Union  Causeway,"  which  he  thought  he  could  reach  from  his  left  flank 
across,  the  Savannah  river.  The  general  also  informed  the  admiral 
that  if  he  would  simply  engage  the  attention  of  the  forts  along  Wil 
mington  Channel,  at  Beaulieu  and  Rosedew,  the  army  could  carry  the 
defenses  of  Savannah  by  assault  as  soon  as  the  heavy  ordnance  arrived 
from  Hilton  Head. 

On  the  15th,  Sherman  returned  to  the  lines  in  the  rear  of 
Savannah. 

Having  received  and  carefully  considered  all  the  reports  of  di 
vision  commanders,  he  determined  to  assault  the  lines  of  the  enemy  as 
scon  as  the  heavy  ordnance  should  arrive  from  Port  Royal,  first  mak 
ing  a  formal  demand  for  surrender.  On  the  17th,  a  number  of  thirty- 
pounder  Parrott  guns  having  reached  King's  Bridge,  Sherman  proceeded 
in  person  to  the  headquarters  of  Major-General  Slocum,  on  the  Augusta 
road,  and  dispatched  thence  into  Savannah,  by  flag  of  truce,  a  formal 
demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  place,  accompanied  by  a  copy  of  Hood's 
threat,  at  Dalton,  to  take  no  prisoners,  and  on  the  following  day  receiv 
ed  an  answer  from  General  Hardee  conveying  his  refusal  to  accede 
thereto.  In  his  reply,  General  Hardee  pointed  out  that  the  investment 
\vas  still  incomplete. 

In  the  meantime,  further  reconnoissances  from  the  left  flank 
had  demonstrated  that  it  was  impracticable  and  unwise  to  push  any 
considerable  force  across  the  Savannah  river,  since  the  enemy  held  the 
river  opposite  the  city  with  iron-clad  gunboats,  and  could  destroy 
any  pontoons  laid  down  between  Hutchinson's  Island  and  the  South 
Carolina  shore,  and  thereby  isolate  any  force  sent  over  from  that  flank. 
Sherman,  therefore,  ordered  General  Slocum  to  get  into  position  the 
siege-guns,  and  make  all  the  preparations  necessary  to  assault,  and 
to  report  the  earliest  moment  when  he  could  be  ready. 

General  Foster  had  already  established  a  division  of  troops  on 


208  HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

the  peninsula  or  neck  between  the  Coosawhatchie  and  Tullifinney 
rivers,  at  the  head  of  Broad  river,  whence  he  could  reach  the  railway 
with  his  artillery.  '  Sherman  himself  went  to  Port  Royal,  and  made 
arrangements  to  reinforce  that  command  by  one  or  more  divisions, 
so  as  to  enable  it  to  assault  and  carry  the  railway,  and  thence  turn  tow 
ards  Savannah  until  it  should  occupy  the  causeway.  He  made  the 
voyage  on  board  Admiral  Dahlgren's  flag-ship,  the  Harvest  Moon,  which 
put  out  to  sea  the  night  of  the  20th;  but  the  wind  was  high,  and  in 
creased  during  the  night,  so  that  the  pilot  considered  Ossabaw  Bar 
impassable,  and  ran  into  Tybee,  whence  the  steamer  proceeded  through 
the  inland  channels  into  Wassaw  Sound,  and  thence  through  Romney 
Marsh.  But  the  ebb-tide  having  caught  the  Harvest  Moon,  so  that  she 
was  unable  to  make  the  passage,  Admiral  Dahlgren  took  the  general 
in  his  barge,  and  pulling  in  the  direction  of  Vernon  river,  the  army- 
tug  Red  Legs  was  there  met,  bearing  a  message  from  Captain  Dayton, 
assistant-adjutant-general,  dated  that  morning,  the  21st,  to  the  effect 
that  the  troops  were  already  in  possession  of  the  enemy's  lines,  and 
were  advancing  without  opposition  into  Savannah.  Admiral  Dahlgren 
proceeded  up  the  Vernon  river  in  his  barge,  while  General  Sherman 
went  on  board  the  tug,  in  which  he  proceeded  to  Fort  McAllister,  and 
thence  to  the  rice-mill,  whence  he  viewed  the  assault,  and  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  22nd  rode  into  the  city  of  Savannah. 

After  firing  heavily  from  his  iron-clads  and  the  batteries  along 
the  lines,  all  the  afternoon,  and  late  into  the  evening  of  the  20th,  Har- 
dee  had  evacuated  the  city  during  the  night,  on  a  pontoon  bridge, 
and  marched  towards  Charleston  on  the  causeway  road.  The  night 
being  very  dark  and  a  strong  westerly  wind  blowing,  although  the 
sounds  of  movement  were  heard  in  Geary's  front,  it  was  impossible 
to  make  out  its  direction  or  object,  and  when  the  pickets  of  that  di 
vision  advanced  early  on  the  morning  of  the  21st  the  evacuation  had 
been  completed,  and  nothing  remained  but  to  occupy  the  city. 

Immediately  on  his  arrival,  Sherman  dispatched  the  following 
brief  note  to  President  Lincoln,  announcing  this  happy  termination 
of  the  campaign:' 

"I  beg  to  present  you,  as  a  Christmas  gift,  the  city  of  Savannah, 
with  one  hundred  and  fifty  heavy  guns  and  plenty  of  ammunition,  and 
also  about  twenty-five  thousand  bales  of  cotton." 

The  number  of  pieces  of  artillery  captured,  as  subsequently  as 
certained  by  actual  inspection  and  count,  was  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
seven. 

Thus,  as  the  result  of  this  great  campaign,  was  gained  the  posses 
sion  of  what  had  from  the  outset  been  its  chief  object. 

Its  present  value  was  mainly  as  a  base  for  future  operations. 

The  army  marched  over  three  hundred  miles  in  twenty-four  days, 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  209 

directly  through  the  heart  of  Georgia,  and  reached  the  sea  with  its 
subsistence  trains  almost  unbroken.  In  the  entire  command,  five  offi 
cers  and  fifty-eight  men  were  killed,  thirteen  officers  and  two  hundred 
and  thirty-two  men  wounded,  and  one  officer  and  two  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  men  missing;  making  a  total  list  of  causualties  of  but 
nineteen  commissioned  officers  and  five  hundred  and  forty-eight  en 
listed  men,  or  five  hundred  and  sixty-seven  of  all  ranks.  Seventy- 
seven  officers,  and  twelve  hundred  and  sixty-one  men  of  the  Confed 
erate  army,  or  thirteen  hundred  and  thirty-eight  in  all,  were  made  pris 
oners.  Ten  thousand  negroes  left  the  plantations  of  their  former  mas 
ters  and  accompanied  the  column  when  it  reached  Savannah,  with 
out  taking  note  of  thousands  more  who  joined  the  army  but  from 
various  causes  had  to  leave  it  at  different  points.  Over  twenty  thou 
sand  bales  of  cotton  were  burned,  besides  the  twenty-five  thousand 
captured  at  Savannah.  Thirteen  thousand  head  of  beef-cattle,  nine 
million  five  hundred  thousand  pounds  of  corn,  and  ten  million  five 
hundred  thousand  pounds  of  fodder  were  taken  from  the  coun 
try  and  issued  to  the  troops  and  animals.  The  men  lived  mainly  on  the 
sheep,  hogs,  turkeys,  geese,  chickens,  sweet  potatoes,  and  rice,  gath 
ered  by  the  foragers  from  the  plantations  along  the  route  of  each  day's 
march.  Sixty  thousand  men,  taking  merely  of  the  surplus  which  fell 
in  their  way  as  they  marched  rapidly  on  the  main  roads,  subsisted 
for  tkree  weeks  in  the  very  country  where  the  Union  prisoners  at 
Andersonville  were  starved  to  death  or  idiocy.  Five  thousand  horses 
and  four  thousand  mules  were  impressed  for  the  cavalry  and  trains. 
Three  hundred  and  twenty  miles  of  railway  were  destroyed,  and  the 
last  remaining  links  of  communication  between  the  Confederate 
armies  in  Virginia  and  the  West  effectually  severed,  by  burning  every 
tie,  twisting  every  rail  while  heated  red  hot  over  naming  piles  of 
ties,  and  laying  in  ruin  every  depot,  engine  house,  repair  shop,  water 
tank,  and  turn-table. 

From  the  time  that  the  army  left  Atlanta,  until  its  arrival  be 
fore  Savannah,  not  one  word  of  intelligence  was  received  by  the  Gov 
ernment  or  people,  except  through  the  Confederate  newspapers,  of  its 
whereabouts,  movements,  or  fate;  and  it  was  not  until  Sherman  had 
emerged  from  the  region  lying  between  Augusta  and  Macon,  and  reach 
ed  Millen,  that  the  authorities  and  the  press  of  the  Confederacy  were 
able  to  make  up  their  minds  as  to  the  direction  of  his  march. 

Marching  in  four  columns,  on  a  front  of  thirty  miles,  each  col 
umn  masked  in  all  directions  by  clouds  of  skirmishers,  Sherman  was 
enabled  to  continue  till  the  last  to  menace  so  many  points,  each  in 
such  force  that  it  was  impossible  for  the  enemy  to  decide  whether 
Augusta,  Macon,  or  Savannah  were  his  immediate  objective;  the  Gulf 


210  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

or  the  Atlantic  his  destination;    the  Flint,  the  Oconee,  the  Ogeechee, 
or  the  Savannah  his  route;  or  what  his  ulterior  design. 

Immediately  upon  receipt  of  Sherman's  laconic  message,  Presi 
dent  Lincoln  replied: 

Executive  Mansion, 
Washington,  D.  C.,  Dec.  26,  1864. 
"My  Dear  General  Sherman: 

"Many,  many  thanks  for  your  Christmas  gift, — the  capture  of 
Savannah. 

"When  you  were  about  to  leave  Atlanta  for  the  Atlantic  coast, 
I  was  anxious,  if  not  fearful;  but  feeling  you  were  the  better  judge,  and 
remembering  that  'nothing  risked  is  nothing  gained,'  I  did  not  inter 
fere.  Now,  the  undertaking  being  a  success,  the  honor  is  all  yours, 
for  I  believe  none  of  us  went  further  than  to  acquiesce.  And  taking 
the  work  of  General  Thomas  into  count,  as  it  should  be  taken,  it  is 
indeed  a  great  success. 

"Not  only  does  it  afford  the  obvious  and  immediate  military  ad 
vantages,  but  in  showing  to  the  world  that  your  army  could  be  divided, 
putting  the  stronger  part  to  an  important  new  service,  and  yet  leaving 
enough  to  vanquish  the  old  opposing  forces  of  the  whole — Hood's  army 
— it  brings  those  who  sat  in  darkness  to  see  a  great  light. 

"But  what  next?  I  suppose  it  will  be  safe  if  I  leave  General 
Grant  and  yourself  to  decide. 

"Please  make  my  grateful  acknowledgements  to  your  whole  army, 
officers  and  men. 

Yours  very  truly, 

A.  LINCOLN." 

In  concluding  his  official  report,  Sherman  thus  speaks  of  the 
services  rendered  by  his  subordinate  commanders,  and  of  the  charac 
ter  of  his  army; 

"Generals  Howard  and  Slocum  are  gentlemen  of  singular  capac 
ity  and  intelligence,  thorough  soldiers  and  patriots,  working  day  and 
night,  not  for  themselves,  but  for  their  country  and  their  men.  Gen 
eral  Kilpatrick,  who  commanded  the  cavalry  of  this  army,  has  handled 
it  with  spirit  and  dash  to  my  entire  satisfaction,  and  kept  a  superior 
force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  from  even  approaching  our  infantry  col 
umns  or  wagon  trains.  All  the  division  and  brigade  commanders 
merit  my  personal  and  official  thanks,  and  I  shall  spare  no  efforts  to 
secure  them  commissions  equal  to  the  rank  they  have  exercised  so  well. 

"As  to  the  rank  and  file,  they  seem  so  full  of  confidence  in  them 
selves,  that  I  doubt  if  they  want  a  compliment  from  me;  but  I  must 
do  them  the  justice  to  say  that,  whether  called  on  to  ftght,  to  maron, 
to  wade  streams,  to  make  roads,  clear  out  obstruction^'  build  bridges, 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  211 

make  'corduroy'  or  tear  up  railroads,  they  have  done  it  with  alacrity 
and  a  degree  of  cheerfulness  unsurpassed.  A  little  loose  in  foraging, 
they  'did  some  things  they  ought  not  to  have  done,'  yet  on  the  whole 
they  have  supplied  the  wants  of  the  army  with  as  little  violence  as 
could  be  expected,  and  as  little  loss  as  I  calculated.  Some  of  these 
foraging  parties  had  encounters  with  the  enemy  which  would,  in  or 
dinary  times,  rank  as  respectable  battles. 

"The  behavior  of  our  troops  in  Savannah  has  been  so  manly, 
so  quiet,  so  perfect,  that  I  take  it  as  the  best  evidence  of  discipline  and 
true  courage.  Never  was  a  hostile  city,  filled  with  women  and  chil 
dren,  occupied  by  a  large  army  with  less  disorder,  or  more  system, 
order  and  good  government.  The  same  general  and  generous  spirit 
of  confidence  and  good  feeling  pervades  the  army  which  it  has  ever 
afforded  me  especial  pleasure  to  report  on  former  occasions." 

While  in  Savannah,  General  Sherman  received  a  visit  from  the 
Secretary  of  War,  Mr.  Stanton,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  obtaining 
the  promotions  he  had  recommended  on  his  subordinate  commanders. 

General  Sherman  placed  General  Gearry  in  temporary  command 
of  the  city  of  Savannah,  and  directing  him  to  restore  and  preserve  or 
der  and  quiet,  adopted  at  the  same  time  a  policy  of  conciliation  and 
justice  which  soon  bore  its  fruit  in  the  altered  tone  of  the  former 
adherents  of  the  Confederate  cause.  The  mayor,  R.  D.  Arnold,  who  but 
a  short  time  before  had  called  upon  the  inhabitants  to  arm  and  go 
to  the  trenches  to  defend  their  city  against  the  invaders,  now  invoked 
the  citizens  to  recognize  the  existing  condition  of  affairs  and  to  yield 
a  ready  obedience  to  the  actual  authorities.  The  mayor  was  con 
tinued  in  the  exercise  of  his  functions,  so  far  as  they  were  exclusive 
ly  connected  with  persons  not  in  the  military  or  naval  service. 

A  large  public  meeting  of  citizens  was  held,  at  which  Mayor 
Arnold's  views  were  substantially  adopted  and  Governor  Brown  re 
quested  £0  take  measures  for  restoring  the  state  to  the  union.  A  na 
tional  bank  was  established,  and  active  measures  taken  to  resume 
trade  with  the  North  and  foreign  nations  so  soon  as  the  military  re 
strictions  should  be  removed.  Divine  service  was  resumed  in  the 
churches,  and  soon  Savannah  was  more  tranquil  than  it  had  been  at 
any  time  since  its  capture  was  first  threatened  in  1862. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  General  Sherman  issued  the  following 
orders,  in  regard  to  internal  trade,  the  conduct  of  the  citizens,  and 
the  outrages  of  the  Confederate  guerrillas: 

"It  being  represented  that  the  Confederate  army  and  armed 
bands  of  robbers,  acting  professedly  under  the  authority  or  the  Con 
federate  government,  are  harrassing  the  people  of  Georgia,  and  en 
deavoring  to  intimidate  them  in  the  efforts  thy  are  making  to  secure 
to  themselves  provisions,  clothing,  security  to  life  and  property,  and 


212  HISTORY   OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

the  restoration  of  law  and  good  government  in  the  state,  it  is  hereby^ 
ordered  and  made  public:  — 

"I.  That  the  farmers  of  Georgia  may  bring  into  Savannah,  Fer- 
nandina,  or  Jacksonville,  Florida,  marketing  such  as  beef,  pork,  mut 
ton,  vegetables  of  any  kind,  fish,  etc.,  as  well  as  cotton  in  small  quan 
tities,  and  sell  the  same  in  open  market,  except  the  cotton,  which 
must  be  sold  by  or  through  the  treasury  agents,  and  may  invest  the 
proceeds  in  family  stores,  such  as  bacon  and  flour,  in  any  reasonable 
quantity,  groceries,  shoes,  and  clothing,  and  articles  not  contraband 
of  war,  and  carry,  the  same  back  to  their  families.  No  trade-stores 
will  be  attempted  in  the  interior,  or  stocks  of  goods  sold  for  them, 
but  families  may  club  together  for  mutual  assistance  and  protection 
in  coming  and  going. 

"II.  The  people  are  encouraged  to  meet  together  in  peaceful  as 
semblages  to  discuss  measures  looking  to  their  safety  and  good  gov 
ernment,  and  restoration  of  state  and  national  authorities,  and  will 
be  protected  by  the  National  army  when  so  doing;  and  all  peaceable 
inhabitants  who  satisfy  the  commanding  officers  that  they  are  earnest 
ly  laboring  to  that  end,  must  not  only  be  left  undisturbed  in  property 
and  person,  but  must  be  protected  as  far  as  possible  consistent  with 
the  military  operations.  If  any  farmer  or  peaceful  inhabitant  is 
molested  by  the  enemy,  'viz.,  the  Confederate  army  of  guerrilas,  be 
cause  of  his  friendship  to  the  National  government,  the  perpetrator, 
if  caught,  will  be  summarily  punished,  or  his  family  made  to  suf 
fer  for  the  outrage;  but  if  the  crime  cannot  be  traced  to  the  actual 
party,  then  retaliation  will  be  made  on  the  adherents  to  the  cause  of 
the  rebellion.  Should  a  Union  man  be  murdered,  then  a  rebel  select 
ed  by  lot  will  be  shot;  or  if  a  Union  family  be  persecuted  on  account  of 
the  cause,  a  rebel  family  will  be  banished  to  a  foreign  land.  In  aggra 
vated  cases,  retaliation  will  extend  as  high  as  five  for  one.  All  com 
manding  officers  will  act  promptly  in  such  cases,  and  report  their 
action  after  the  retaliation  is  done. 

A  few  days  before  the  evacuation  of  Savannah  by  the  enemy, 
the  writer  was  detailed  as  Aide-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  General  E.  W. 
Rice,  who  commanded  our  brigade,  and  the  division  a  portion  of  the 
time,  and  remained  with  him  until  the  end  of  the  war.  As  I  was  at  all 
times  with  the  division,  I  was  always  able  to  keep  in  close  touch  with 
all  movements  and  doings  of  the  regiment. 

The  following  was  the  personnel  of  the  commander  and  staff  at 
that  time: 

Brig.  General  E.  W.  Rice,  •Commanding. 

C.  H.  Trott,  Captain  and  Asst.  Adjt.  General  Uv  S,  V, 

T.   S.  Moffat,  Capt  Asst.   Inspector  General. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  213 

H.  I.  Smith,  First  Lieut.  7th  Iowa  Infty.,  Act,  Aid-de-Camp. 

E.  E.  Swearingin,  First' Lieut.  17th  Iowa  Infty.,  Act.  Aid-de-Camp. 

Dewitt  C.   Smith,  Capt.  and  Act.  Ordnance  Officer. 

-  Martin,  First  Lieut.  66th  Ind.  Infty.,  A.  A.  Q.  M.  General. 

The  brigade  consisted  of  the  2nd  and  7th  Iowa,  52nd  Ills.,  66th 
Ind.,  and  Battery  "H"  1st  Missouri  Light  Artillery. 

General  Logan  rejoined  us  at  Savannah,  relieving  General  Aus- 
terhaus,  who  had  commanded  our  Corps  so  ably  and  creditably  on 
the  campaign  to  the  sea. 

December  22nd,  1864.  We  established  camp  at  Fort  Brown  near 
the  banks  of  the  Savannah  river,  outside  of  the  city  limits. 

Dec.  24th.  Had  Grand  Review  of  the  whole  army  on  south  Broad 
street;  reviewed  by  General  Sherman.  Remained  at  Savannah  rest 
ing  and  recuperating  from  the  arduous  campaign,  where  we  drew 
rations  and  clothing,  until  the  19th  of  January,  1865;  in  the  meantime, 
on  the  7th  inst.,  we  were  again  reviewed  in  the  city  by  General  How 
ard,  and  visited  by  Governor  Stone,  of  Iowa. 


THE  CAMPAIGN  THROUGH  THE  CAROLINAS. 

January  19th.  Crossed  the  Savannah  River  into  South  Carolina 
when  we  were  deluged  with  a  violent  downpour  of  rain  all  day,  inun 
dating  the  whole  flat  country,  obliging  us  to  return  to  camp  that 
night,  where  we  remained  until  the  28th  inst.,  when  we  moved  out  on 
the  Louisville  Pike  up  the  Savannah  river  18  miles.  Weather  very 
cold  and  uncomfortable. 

Jan.  29th.  Started  out  at  sunrise,  marching  all  day  through  a 
very  swampy  country;  worked  hard  corduroying  and  fixing  roads  in 
order  to  get  artillery  and  trains  along;  went  into  camp  at  dark  near 
Springfield,  Ga.  Weather  very  cold,  freezing  hard  and  no  shelter.  Dis 
tance  marched  15  miles. 

Jan.  30th.  Moved  out  of  camp  before  daylight,  marched  14  miles, 
going  into  camp  in  open  field  near  Sisters  Ferry,  where  we  laid  until 
the  4th  of  Feb.  waiting  for  pontoon  bridge  to  be  laid  to  cross  the 
Savannah  river.  A  gunboat,  some  transports,  and  sutlers  boat  came 
up  while  there. 

Feb.  4th.  Crossed  the  river  again  into  South  Carolina;  while 
'marching  over  corduroy  road  on  bottom  on  the  opposite  side  had 
three  men  wounded  by  explosion  of  torpedoes  placed  under  road  by 
the  enemy;  column  was  halted  and  prisoners  captured  in  that  vicinity 
were  compelled  to  dig  up  and  remove  those  not  exploded  in  order 
that  we  might  continue  our  advance  without  such  barbarous  mode 
of  warfare.  The  rebels  selected  to  remove  the  explosives  seemed  to 


24  HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

know  the  exact  location  of  the  bombs,  so  that  they  removed  them  very 
carefully  without  much  danger.  Officers  and  men  realized  as  they  set 
foot  upon  South  Carolina  soil  that  it  was  the  first  and  foremost  in 
the  cause  of  secession,  had  fired  the  first  gun  against  the  flag,  and 
had  done  more  than  all  others  to  bring  upon  the  country  the  horrors 
of  civil  war.  This  was  an  unfortunate  introduction  to  the  state.  Plant 
ing  torpedoes  for  the  defense  of  a  position  is  legitimate  warfare,  but 
our  soldiers  regarded  the  act  of  placing  them  in  a  highway  where 
no  contest  was  anticipated,  as  something  akin  to  poisoning  a  stream 
of  water,  and  is  not  recognized  as  legitimate  warfare,  so  that  the  men 
were  not  in  the  best  of  humor  and  could  not  help  feeling  bitter  against1 
such  a  mode  of  cowardly  defense.  If  South  Carolina  suffered  more 
severely  than  any  other  it  was  due  in  part  to  the  barbarous  blunder 
ing  of  those  who  were  more  cruel  than  wise.  During  our  rest  awaiting 
crossing  we  had  drill,  dress  parade  and  review,  and  were  visited  and 
addressed  by  Rev.  King,  of  Cornell  College,  Iowa,  in  behalf  of  free 
schools  for  disabled  soldiers  and  soldiers'  orphans.  Contributions 
were  raised  to  be  paid  the  next  pay  day. 

Feb.  5th.  Did  not  move  out  of  camp  until  sundown,  being  de 
layed  by  troops  and  trains,  marching  over  corduroyed  causeway  across 
swamp  three  miles  wide.  Marched  three  miles.  Camped  on  Capt. 
Robert's  plantation  at  10:00  p.  m. 

Feb.  6th.  Marched  at  7:00  a.  m.;  march  12  miles;  camp  at  dark 
on  Mix  plantion.  Country  bad,  rained  all  day.  Foragers  brought  in 
some  sweet  potatoes,  sugar  and  fresh  pork,  which  was  issued  to  the 
troops. 

Feb.  7th.  Broke  camp  before  daylight  and  hurried  off  before  break 
fast.  Our  regiment,  together  with  the  12th  Ills,  were  detailed  to  build 
bridges  and  corduroy  roads  across  swamp;  rained  hard  throughout  the 
day;  roads  a  perfect  quagmire.  Bivouaced  at  Hickory  Hill. 

Feb.  8th.  Resumed  our  march  at  8:00  p.  m.;  rear  guard;  pro 
gress  slow;  weather  clear,  cold  and  windy.  Marched  10  miles,  camp 
ing  at  Whippy  Swamp. 

Feb.  9th.  Moved  out  of  camp  at  6:00  a.  m.  Rebels  made  a  stand 
on  opposite  side  of  swamp  at  River's  Bridge.  General  Mower  effected 
a  crossing  by  fighting,  wading  in  water  with  cartridge  boxes  fastened 
to  the  necks  of  the  men  to  keep  the  powaer  dry,  while  u.e  rest  of  the 
force  got  the  trains  and  artillery  over  by  corduroying,  pontooning  and 
bridging.  It  seemed  a  grand  day's  work  to  have  accomplished,  as  we 
sank  down  in  our  miry  bivouac.  The  gallant  General  Swayne  lost 
his  leg  in  the  Salkehatchie  encounter,  with  many  others  killed  and 
wounded.  Luckily  for  the  wounded,  we  were  not  too  far  from  our 
base  to  send  back  with  strong  escort,  to  Pocotaligo. 

We  destroyed  about  forty  miles  of  Charleston  and  Augusta  rail- 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  215  , 

road,  and,  by  threateneing  the  route  beyond  which  we  intended  to 
take,  we  deluded  the  enemy  into  concentrating  at  Augusta  and  other 
places,  while  we  marched  rapidly  away,  leaving  him  well  behind, 
and  nothing  but  Wade  Hampton's  cavalry,  and  the  more  formidable 
obstacle  of  the  Saluda  river  and  its  swamps,  between  us  and  Columbia, 
our  next  objective  point. 

Feb.  10th.  Moved  out  before  daylight  in  advance;  roads  better; 
•aarched  21  miles.  Major  Mahon,  in  command  of  foragers,  brought 
in  over  200  hogs  and  150  head  of  cattle  captured  in  the.  country,  giving 
us  plenty  of  fresh  meat  which  we  greatly  needed,  as  rations  were 
getting  scarce.  Crossed  Little  Salkehatchie  at  Catman's  bridge. 

Feb.  llth.  Marched  at  sunrise;  marched  15  miles,  crossing  the 
South  Bdisto  river  at  Bimpkin's  bridge  at  2:00  p.  m.,  going  into  camp 
on  Cooper's  plantation.  Captured  a  lot  of  molasses  on  General  Jen- 
ning's  plantation. 

It  was  somewhat  sad  to  see  the  destruction  of  property;  as  South 
Carolina  was  regarded  as  the  hot-bed  and  cradle  of  secession,  there 
was  not  so  much  restraint  enforced  among  bummers  and  foragers  as 
in  other  states,  the  country  being  left  to  taKe  care  of  itself,  and  be 
come  a  howling  waste.  There  was  marauding,  pillaging,  and  out 
rages  committed  outside  of  the  column  that  was  unauthorized,  un- 
sanctioned  and  to  be  deplored.  Some  of  the  culprits  fell  victims  to 
the  mercies  of  Wheeler's  cavalry  and  were  never  heard  of  again, 
earning  a  fate  richly  deserved. 

Feb.  12th.  Moved  at  6:00  a.  m.;  marched  eight  miles,  going  into 
camp  at  noon  near  North -Edisto  river.  Our  brigade  skirmished  with 
the  enemy  while  the  17th  Corps  flanked  them  and  effected  a  crossing. 

Feb.  13th.  Starteti  before  daylight,  without  breakfast;  7th  Iowa 
in  advance;  marched  20  miles  without  opposition,  going  into  camp 
at  Beaver  Creek. 

Feb.  14th.  Started  out  at  8:00  o'clock;  marched  in  rear  of  train; 
marched  eight  miles;  went  into  camp  at  Sandy  Run.  A  large  amount 
of  meat,  molasses,  and  clothing  found  buried  and  hidden  along  the 
route;  that  which  was  of  use  was  appropriated;  among  the  hidden 
effects  was  a  piano. 

Feb.  15th.  Moved  out  at  10:00  a.  m.  in  rear  of  division;  went 
into  camp  on  Congaree  Creek  in  camp  occupied  by  the  enemy  in  the 
morning.  Cannonading  ana  skirmishing  during  the  day. 

Feb.  16th.  Moved  at  9:00  a.  m.,  crossing  Congaree  Creek;  went 
into  temporary  bivouac  at  3:00  p.  m.  on  Congaree  Creek.  Skirmish 
ing  with  enemy  all  day,  the  batteries  shelling  the  woods  on  opposite 
side  of  the  river.  Marched  again  at  5:00  p.  m.;  crossed  Saluda  river 
at  Saluda  Factory  on  pontoons;  Columbia,  the  capital  of  South  Caro- 


216  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

lina,  occupied  by»  the  enemy  in  plain  view;  went  into  camp  in  open 
field;  company  "B"  detailed  as  skirmishers;  deployed  and  advanced 
to  bank  of  river  and  laid  down,  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  on  the 
opposite  side. 

Feb.  17th.  Crossed  Broad  river  and  marched  into  Columbia, 
which  had  been  evacuated  by  the  enemy  in  much  haste,  they  not  having 
time  to  take  along  many  of  our  prisoners,  which  they  abandoned, 
almost  naked  and  starved.  Although  our  clothes  were  scant  we  di 
vided  with  them,  together  with  our  rations.  After  filling  them  up 
we  laid  down  beside  the -fire  and  listened  to  their  life  and  suffering 
in  rebel  prison. 

Our  command  was  about  the  first  organized  troops  to  march  into 
the  city;  I  rode  with  the  General  at  the  head  of  the  column,  hence 
had  a  good  opportunity  to  see.  Some  of  the  13th  Iowa  had  crossed 
over  the  river  in  a  boat  below  the  city  in  advance  and  were  raising 
their  flag  on  the  State  House  when  we  entered.  In  order  that  the 
large  supply  of  cotton  stored  at  Columbia  should  not  fall  into  our 
hands,  the  Confederates  had  piled  it  up  several  bales  high  in  the  mid 
dle  of  the  streets,  and  before  evacuating  they  had  set  it  on  fire.  It 
had  just  got  nicely  under  way  when  we  marched  in.  As  soon  as  the 
'rope  binders  on  the  outside  were  burned  off  the  cotton  in  blazing 
sheets  was  taken  up  by  the  fierce  wind  that  was  blowing  and  swept 
all  over  the  city,  alighting  on  the  roofs,  setting  the  buildings  on  fire, 
so  that  soon  the  whole  city  was.  enveloped  in  flames.  The  citi 
zens,  in  order  to  gain  the  good  will  of  the  soldiers,  had  rolled  out 
barrels  of  whiskey  on  the  sidewalks,  broken  in  the  heads,  furnishing 
cups  to  drink  it  as  the  troops  marched  through;  in  some  instances 
passing  it  to  the  soldiers  marching  by.  General  Slocum  said,  "I  be 
lieve  the  immediate  cause  or  the  disaster  was  the  free  use  of  whiskey 
which  was  supplied  to  the  soldiers  by  citizens  with  great  liberality." 
Our  corps  went  into  camp  about  a  mile  south  of  the  city;  a  division 
of  the  17th  Corps  was  left  to  guard  the  eity.  After  the  brigade  was 
settled  in  camp,  I,  together  with  two  of  the  orderlies,  rode  back  to  the 
city  to  witness  the  conflagration. 

Devastation  and  pandemonium  raged  supreme,  and  war  with 
its  ironic  fate  had  been  brought  to  the  capital  city  of  the  first  state 
to  incite  the  people  of  the  South  to  rebel  nearly  four  years  before, 
bringing  about  a  long  array  of  attendant  horrors  and  suffering.  Where 
peace  had  hitherto  held  sway,  grim  war  was  noiv  holding  forth  with  all 
its  fury.  Whole  families  were  fleeing  panic  stricken  from  their  burn 
ing  homes  with  such  of  their  personal  effects  as  they  could  carry  on 
their  backs.  Women  with  their  childern  and  nuns  were  sitting  in  the 
parks  and  public  places  to  escape  the  heat  and  flames,  watching  their 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  217 

babes  and  personal  effects,  saved  from  their  homes  laid  bare  by  fire, 
shot,  and  shell. 

To  those  who  have  never  seen  a  burning  town  or  city  in  war 
time  it  is  not  given  to  know,  though  they  may  imagine,  the  effects 
on  its  surroundings.  Thus  it  is  not  easy  to  conceive  how,  in  the  fitful 
light — especially  in  a  gale  of  wind — the  faces  of  those  striving  for  dear 
life,  at  one  moment  lit  up  like  ghosts,  while  the  next  they  are  lost  in 
utter  darkness.  There  was  an  attempt  by  the  troops  in  the  city  on 
guard  to  suppress  the  fire  with  the  crude  fire  apparatus  at  hand,  but 
some  miscreants  cut  the  hose  between  the  reservoir  and  the  hand 
engine,  rendering  thjCm  useless;  so  the  efforts  were  directed  to  save 
the  women  and  children  from  the  burning  flames,  with  such  of  their 
personal  belongings  as  could  be  hurriedly  gathered  together  and  carried 
away.  Cavalry  were  clattering  through  the  paved  streets  trying  to 
bring  order  out  of  chaos,  but  it  was  no  use,  "hell  was  out  for  recess." 
Water  ran  short,  so  that  when,  in  the  general  confusion,  any  attempt 
was  made  to  .save  property,  it  almost  invariably  failed. 

The  incidents  which  came  under  one's  notice  were  innumerable, 
some  as  pathetic  as  others  were  amusing.  I  remember  that  as  we  were 
riding  by  a  large  building,  we  heard  shrieks  of  distress  by  some  fe 
male;  the  building  was  surrounded  by  a  high  stone  wall  which  we 
attempted  to  scale  with  timbers  to  go  to  her  rescue.  When  we  had 
after  much  trouble  got  about  over  a  man  came  along  and  asked  us 
"what  we  were  trying  to  do,"  we  told'  him  we  were  trying  to  rescue 
the  woman  who  was  screaming;  when  he  said,  you  blamed  fools,  that 
is  an  insane  asylum,  and  she  is  a  lunatic  and  has  been  yelling  that 
way  for  ten  years.  We  came  down  from  the  wall  looking  cheap.  As 
we  were  riding  through  the  streets  a  lady  ran  out  to  ask  us  to  drive 
out  £ome  men  who  were  looting  her  premises;  we  went  in  and  drove 
out  some  Missouri  batterymen,  when  she  brought  up  a  basket  of 
choice  bottled  wine,  some  of  which  we  drank,  putting  the  rest  in 
our  saddlebags,  which  we  used  on  our  return  to  camp  to  assuage  the 
anger  of  the  General  for  our  absence  from  camp  all  night  without  leave. 

Oh,  what  a  motly  mob;  what  a  crowd  of  all  sorts  there  was 
there!  It  was  a  strange  sight.  Negro  looters,  city  criminals,  rushing 
here  and  there,  evading  the  guards  with  their  ill-gotten  gains;  women 
with  loose  negligee  apparel,  some  with  brazenly  looser  morals,  solicit 
ing  and  brushing  against  nuns  and  sisters  of  charity  on  errands  of 
mercy.  It  was  a  curious  picture,  that  capital  city  possessed  by  the 
mob  and  soldiery. 

Efforts  of  every  possible  kind  were  made  by  the  officers  and 
guards,  and  some  of  the  people,  to  save  the  city.  It  was  not  however 
until  it  was  about  burned  out  and  daylight  that  the  excitement  was 
allayed  and  quiet  restored. 


218  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

Some  sacrilegious  robbers  broke  into  the  cathedral  and  stole 
the  golden  images  from  the  sacred  altars.  The  priests  reported  the 
theft  to  General  Sherman,  and  the  next  day,  while  on  the  march,  an  in 
spection  and  search  of  all  personal  effects  was  suddenly  ordered  with 
out  notice,  thinking  perhaps  the  culprit  with  the  loot  might  be  caught 
unawares;  but  it  was  not  found  among  the  troops.  It  was  probably 
taken  by  jail  birds  who  were  let  loose  on  the  evacuation  of  the  city. 

General  Slocum  wrote  in  reference  to  the  campaign  as  follows: 

"From  Columbia  the  army  moved  toward  Payetteville — the  left 
wing  crossing  the  Catawba  river  at  Rocky  Mount.  While  the  rear  of 
the  Corps  was  crossing,  our  pontoon-bridge  was  swept  away  by  flood- 
wood  brought  down  the  river,  leaving  the  Fourteenth  Corps  on  the 
south  side.  This  caused  a  delay  of  three  days. 

On  the  3rd  of  March  we  arrived  at  Cheraw,  where  we  found  a 

large  supply  of  stores  sent  from  Charleston  for  safe-keeping 

The  march  through  South  Carolina  had  been  greatly  delayed  by  the 
almost  incessant  rains  and  the  swampy  nature  of  the  country.  More 
than  half  the  way  we  were  compelled  to  corduroy  the  roads  before 
our  trains  could  be  moved.  To  accomplish  tnis  work  we  had  been  sup 
plied  with  axes,  and  the  country  was  covered  with  saplings  well  suited 
to  the  purpose. 

Three  or  four  days  prior  to  our  arrival  at  Fayetteville  General 
Sherman  had  received  information  that  Wilmington  was  in  possession 
of  General  Terry,  and  had  sent  two  messengers  with  letters  inform 
ing  Terry  when  he  would  probably  be  at  Fayetteville.  Both  messen- 
genrs  arrived  safely  at  Wilmington,  and  on  Sunday,  the  day  after  our 
arrival  at  Fayetteville,  the  shrill  whistle  of  a  steamboat  floating  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  announced  that  we  were  once  more  in  communica 
tion  with  our  own  friends.  As  she  came  up,  the  banks  of  the  river 
were  lined  by  our  soldiers,  who  made  the  welkin  ring  with  their  cheers. 
The  opening  of  communication  with  Wilmington  not  only  brought  us 
our  mails  and  a  supply  of  clothing,  but  enabled  us  to  send  to  a  place 
of  safety  thousands  of  refugees  and  contrabands  who  were  following  the 
army  and  seriously  embarrassing  it.  We  were  dependent  upon  the 
country  for  our  supplies  of  food  and  forage,  and  every  one  not  con 
nected  with  the  army  was  a  source  of  weakness  to  us.  On  several  oc 
casions  on  the  march  from  Atlanta  we  had  been  compelled  to  drive 
thousands  of  colored  people  back,  not  from  lack  of  sympathy  with 
them,  but  simply  as  a  matter  of  safety  to  the  army.  The  refugee-train 
following  in  the  rear  of  the  army  was  one  01  the  most  singular  fea 
tures  of  the  march.  Long  before  the  war,  the  slaves  of  the  South  had 
a  system  of  communication  by  which  important  information  was  trans 
mitted  from  one  section  of  the  country  to  another.  The  advance  of  Sher 
man's  army  through  a  section  never  before  visited  by  a  Union  soldier 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  219 

was  known  far  and  wide  many  miles  in  advance  of  us.  It  was  natural 
that  these  poor  creatures,  seeking  a  place  of  safety,  should  flee  to  the 
army,  and  endeavor  to  keep  in  sight  of  it.  Every  day  as  we  marched 
on  we  could  see,  on  each  side  of  our  line  of  march,  crowds  of  these 
people  coming  to  us  througn  roads  and  across  the  fields,  bringing  with 
them  all  their  earthly  goods,  and  many  goods  which  were  not  theirs. 
Horses,  mules,  cows,  dogs,  old  family  carriages,  carts,  and  whatever 
they  thought  might  be  of  use  to  them  was  seized  upon  and  brought  to 
us.  They  were  allowed  to  follow  in  rear  of  our  column,  and  at  times 
they  were  almost  equal  in  numbers  to  the  army  they  were  following.* 
As  singular,  comical,  and  pitiable  a  spectacle  was  never  before  present 
ed.  One  day  a  large  family  of  slaves  came  through  the  fields  to  join 
us.  The  head  of  the  family,  a  venerable  negro,  was  mounted  on  a 
mule,  and  safely  stowed  away  behind  him  in  pockets  or  bags  attached 
to  ti.e  blanket  which  covered  the  mule  were  two  little  pickaninnies, 
one  on  each  side.  This  gave  rise  to  a  most  important  invention,  i.  e., 
"the  best  way  of  transporting  pickaninnies."  On  the  next  day  a  mule 
appeared  in  column,  covered  by  a  blanket  with  two  pockets  on  each 
side,  each  containing  a  little  negro.  Very  soon  old  tent-flies  or  strong 
canvas  was  used  instead  of  the  blanket,  and  often  ten  or  fifteen  pock 
ets  were  attached  to  each  side,  so  that  nothing  of  the  mule  was  vis 
ible  except  the  head,  tail,  and  feet,  all  else  being  covered  by  the  black 
woolly  heads  and  bright  shining  eyes  of  the  little  darkies.  Occas- 
sionally  a  cow  was  made  to  take  the  place  of  the  mule;  this  was  a  de 
cided  improvement,  as  the  cow  furnished  rations  as  well  as  transporta 
tion  for  the  babies.  Old  stages,  family  carriages,  carts  and  lumber 
wagons  filled  with  bedding,  cooking  utensils  and  "traps"  of  all  kinds, 
with  men,  women,  and  children  loaded  with  bundles,  made  up  the 
balance  of  the  refugee-train  which  followed  in  our  rear.  As  all  the 
bridges  were  burned  in  front  of  us,  our  pontoon-trains  were  in  constant 
use,  and  the  bridges  could  be  left  but  a  short  time  for  the  use  of  the 
refugees.  A  scramble  for  precedence  in  crossing  the  bridge  always 
occurred.  The  firing  of  a  musket  or  pistol  in  rear  would  bring  to  the 
refugees  visions  of  guerillas,  and  then  came  *a  panic.  As  our  bridges 
were  not  supplied  with  guard-rails,  occasionally  a  mule  would  be 
crowded  off,  and  with  its  precious  load  would  float  down  the  river. 

Having  thoroughly  destroyed  the  arsenal  buildings,  machine- 
shops,  and  foundries  at  Fayetteville,  we  crossed  the  Cape  Fear  river 
on  the  13th  and  14th  and  resumed  our  march.  We  were  now  entering 
upon  the  last  stage  of  the  great  march  which  was  to  unite  the  Army 
of  the  West  with  that  of  the  East  in  front  of  Richmond.  If  this  march 
could  be  successfully  accomplished  the  Confederacy  was  doomed. 
General  Sherman  did  not  hope  or  expect  to  accomplish  it  without  a 
struggle.  He  anticipated  an  attack  and  'maae  provisions  for  it." 


220  HISTORY  OP  THE  SEVENTH  IOWA 

On  the  18th  we  moved  out  on  the  South  Carolina  Ry.  and  de 
stroyed  two  miles  of  track.  Camped  five  miles  from  Columbia. 

19th.  Moved  at  daylight;  destroyed  the  13th  mile  of  track.  Roads 
good;  plenty  of  forage,  sweet  potatoes,  meat  and  molasses.  Camped 
on  Confederate  General  Hopkin's  plantation. 

20th.  At  7:00  a.  m.,  marched  16  miles,  joined  the  Corps  and' went 
into  camp  at  Muddy  Springs;  country  sandy,  barren,  with  very  little 
water. 

21st.  Moved  out  at  sunrise,  march  forced  and  uncommon  hard; 
made  over  20  miles;  roads  heavy  and  hilly;  can  see  from  the  emin 
ences  in  all  directions,  smoke  from  the  burning  cotton  and  other  stuff 
that  comes  in  the  wake  of  the  army. 

22nd.  Marched  at  10:00  a.  m.;  marched  seven  miles  and  camp 
ed  near  Peay's  Ferry.  Enemy  in  force  across  the  river  in  our  front. 
Nothing  but  corn  meal  issued  for  rations.  All  other  rations  of  the 
command  exhausted.  Said  to  be  ordered  to  prohibit  foraging  after 
we  leave  South  Carolina. 

23rd.  Left  camp  about  nine  o'clock,  crossed  the  Wateree  river, 
passed  through  Liberty  Hill,  pretty  little  place  with  splendid  gar 
dens!  had  a  tiresome  march,  not  getting  into  camp  until  nine  o'clock; 
weather  wet,  rained  all  night,  no  shelter. 

24th.  Marched  at  9:00  o'clock;  roads  muddy  and  stnl  raining; 
marched  until  long  after  dark.  Marched  over  20  miles  over  the  worst 
roads  yet;  one  of  the  hardest  days  march  ever  experienced,  over  roads 
almost  impassible;  camped  near  Camden  on  battlefield  of  Revolution 
ary  war. 

25th.  Resumed  our  march;  weather  still  gloomy,  cloudy  and 
chilly;  marched  eight  miles  and  camped  on  Scape  Creek;  men  .built 
shanties  of  rails  and  blankets,  built  fires  and  made  themselves  as 
comfortable  as  circumstances  would  permit;  rained,  thundered  and 
lightened  all  night. 

Sunday,  26th.  Moved  at  6:00  a.  m.,  marched  sifc  miles  to  Lynche's 
Creek,  wnich  was  so  high  as  to  be  out  of  its  banks;  men  had  to  wade 
in  cold  water  three  feet  deep  to  bridge;  cross  the  stream  and  again 
wade  to  bank;  marched  one  mile,  met  the  enemy  in  force,  drove  them 
back  and  went  into  camp  where  we  had  to  wait  two  days  for  water 
to  subside  so  that  trains  could  cross.  Mustered  for  pay  while  waiting. 
Rations  scarce,  only  five  ounces?  of  meal  issued  with  a  little  coffee  and 
sugar  for  each  man  per  day. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  221 

ADAPTED  FROM  THE  DIARIES  OF  C.  B.  SENIOR  AND  C.  H.  TROTT, 
OF  COMPANY  r'B." 

March  1st.  "Co.  "B"  on  picket  out  in  front  where  the  skirmish 
was  on  the  26t"h.  Everything  quiet  at  present.  We  marched  eleven 
miles  and  camped.  It  was  about  eleven  p.  m.  when  we  got  into  camp. 
We  did  not  get  any  supper  as  it  was  dark  and  about  a  mile  to  water. 
We  laid  and  slept  till  reveille  in^the  morning,  when  we  arose  and  made 
our  mealy,  mushy  breakfast. 

2nd.  Regiment  camped  till  afternoon,  when  we  fell  in  and 
marched  over  Beaver  Dam  creek  and  towards  Cheraw.  We  inarched 
about  five  miles  and  got  into  camp  about  ten  p.  m.  We  are  getting 
exceedingly  short  on  rations,  our  three  days  ration  of  meal  being 
used  up.  There  is -a  good  prospect  of  going  hungry  for  a  day  or  two. 

3rd.  We  started  out  early  this  morning  and  marched  about 
fifteen  miles  towards  Cheraw.  We  got  within  about  ten  miles  of  town 
and  camped  at  Thompson's  Creek,  near  some  rebel  works  that  the  14th 
Corps  had  taken  from  them  last  night.  We  heard  that  the  14th  Corps 
had  taken  Cheraw  and  the  rebels  had  retreated  across  the  Pedee  river. 
The  weather  is  cloudy  and  gloomy  with  a  prospect  of  rain. 

4th.  Marched  about  ten  a.  m.  Marched  through  Cheraw.  The 
streets  were  broad  and  regular  with  avenues  of  trees.  We  expected 
to  cross  the  Pedee  river  to-day,  but  did  not.  Some  of  our  regiment 
were  mustered  out,  having  served  their  three  years  term.  The  weather 
was  cloudy  with  some  wind  and  rain,  but  it  cleared  off  in  the  evening. 

5th.  Laid  still  all  day  about  two  miles  west  of  Cheraw;  suppose 
that  we  were  waiting  for  the  troops  to  cross  the  river.  Fighting  with 
cannonading  over  the  river. 

Gth.  Moved  out  about  nine  a.  m.  and  marched  back  through  town 
and  crossed  the  r^edee  river.  As  we  were  approaching  town,  a  terrible 
explosion  was  heard  that  shook  the  ground  even  where  we  were.  When 
we  reached  town,  the  windows  were  shattered  all  to  pieces,  hardly  a 
pane  of  glass  was  left  and  some  doors  and  windows  were  blown  sash 
and  all  across  the  street.  It  was  caused  by  the  carelessness  of  some 
of  our  men  who  were  destroying  rebel  ammunition  stored  in  the  town. 
Several  of  our  men  were  killed  and  many  wounded  in  the  explosion. 

BY   F.   B.    STAATS,   CO.   "K." 

"In  S.  C.  in  March,  1865,  when  the  rebel  lines  were  fast  receding 
before  Sherman's  army;  when  their  railroads  were  destroyed,  their 
cities  in  some  instances  .burned,  their  country  laid  waste,  when  deserted 
homes  were  heaps  of  smoking  ruins,  when  the  carefully  hoarded  pro 
visions  of  that  not  very  fruitful  country  were  appropriated  to  supply 


222  HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

an  army,  when  the  hopes  so  long  and  fondly  cherished  of  a  govern 
ment  of  aristocracy  for  its  edifice  and  slavery  for  the  foundation,  were 
fast  waning,  a  portion  of  the  army  encamped  a  day  or  two  at  Cheraw, 
a  little  aristocratic  town  on  the  right  bank  Of  the'Great  Pedee  river. 
While  here,  a  soldier  visiting  the  tomb  of  one  of  the  patriots  of  the 
Revolution,  wrote  the  following  inscription  upon  the  tombstone.  The 
lines  were  copied  by  H.  C.  Steel,  Hospital  Steward  of  the  7th  Iowa, 
from  whom  I  received  a  copy: 

Ye  shades  of  patriots  slumbering  neath  the  sod, 

Know  ye  the  woes  of  your  unhappy  state, 
Know  ye  the  turf  has  drank  your  childrens  blood, 

And  your  loved  homes  are  spoiled  and  desolate? 

Know  ye  the  fane  on  which  your  fathers  toiled, 

And  which  ye  guarded  as  a  sacred  trust, 
Your  wayward  sons  have  entered  and  despoiled, 

And  cast  its  glorious  idol  in  the  dust? 

Know  ye  that  treason  o'er  its  sunny  clime, 

Has  blown  its  breath  of  perjury  and  strife, 
Know  ye  your  sons  espoused  the  hideous  crime, 

And  strucK  with  madness  at  the  Nation's  life? 

Know  ye  that  the  haughty  and  the  proud  like  ones 

Are  fleeing  to  the  wood,  the  cane,  the  swamp, 
Know  ye  ycur  mountains,  plains,  and  fair  young  groves, 

Are  trailing  neath  an  angry  army's  tramp? 

How  can  ye  rest,  how  can  your  ashes  sleep, 
While  war's  dread  chariot  rolls  above  your  head; 

Do  not  your  bones  with  holy  horror  creep, 
As  falls  the  blood  your  perjured  sons  have  shed? 

Rouse,  slumbering  patriot,  view  the  ruins  made, 
And   bid   the  traitor  crew  in   shame  disperse; 

Bid  them  restore  the  Union  they  destroyed, 
And  doubly  damn  them  with  a  father's  curse. 

The  above  verses  are  supposed  to  be  the  production  of  Comrade 
Frank  Herrington,  of  Co.  "G,"  the  7th  Iowa  poet,  and  have  been  in  my 
possession  since  the  war  time  days  of  '61  to  '65. 

We  marched  across  the  river  and  camped  about  five  miles  from 
it.  7th.  Marched  out  at  7  a.  m.  in  a  southeast  direction  till  we  reached 
the  main  line.  Our  course  northeast.  We  marched  about  eight  miles 
toward  Bennettsville,  where  we  camped.  We  were  unusually  early 
in  cr.mp  to-day,  it  being  noon.  The  camp  was  in  a  pretty  grove  of 
hard  pine  and  close  to  brigade  headquarters. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  223 

8th.  Started  this  morning  at  8:00  a.  m.,  moved  on  Lawrence- 
burg  road.  It  was  misting  slightly  with  a  prospect  of  rain,  which 
soon  proved  to  be  a  very  wet  day.  Our  progress  was  slow;  we  did  not 
make  more  than  seven  miles.  The  roads  were  bad  and  had  to  be 
corduroyed  nearly  all  the  way  in  order  to  get  the  trains  along.  We 
crossed  the  line  of  South  Carolina  to-day  into  North  Carolina.  The 
country  is  rich,  being  nearly  all  settled  and  abounding  in  forage  which 
had  been  taken  by  the  advance  troops. 

9th.  Moved  out  at  6:00  a.  m.  and  marched  right  along  for  sev 
eral  hours,  on  Laurel  hill  road,  when  our  progress  became  slow  on 
account  of  bad  roads  and  swampy  ground.  Towards  night  we  came 
to  a  creek  swollen  with  the  heavy  rains.  The  bridge  gave  way,  pre 
cipitating  the  mules  and  the  trains  into  the  river.  Then  the  next 
thing  was  to  fix  the  bridge,  which  was  not  done  till  midnight,  the 
rain  pouring  down  in  torrents.  We  got  no  rest,  many  men  never  cross 
ed  the  creek,  but  straggled  off,  built  fires  and  slept. 

10th.  Moved  cany  this  morning.  The  rain  had  ceased;  the 
sky  was  hung  with  heavy,  fleeting  clouds;  the  air  was  cold,  with  a  pros 
pect  of  clearing  up.  We  marched  about  seven  miles  and  went  into 
camp  as  we  supposed  about  4:00  p.  m.,  but  after  dark  the  orders  came 
to  be  ready  to  move  immediately.  The  drum  beat  to  fall  in.  We  had 
to  shoulder  our  knapsacks  and  start.  ^  We  fooled  along  with  the  swamps 
and  corduroy  roads  till  3:00  a.  m.,  when  we  camped  again.  The  night 
was  very  cool  with  white  frost  in  the  morning.  Two  nights  without 
any  sleep  whatever. 

llth.  We  moved  shortly  after  sunrise  to  Bethel  church.  The 
roads  were  worse  than  for  some  days  previous.  Marched  about  eigh 
teen  miles  and  camped  within  twelve  miles  of  Fayetteville  on  Rock- 
fish  river.  No  knowledge  as  yet  whether  the  rebels  hold  town  or  not. 
Report  says  that  our  men  are  in  possession  of  it.  The  army  is  getting 
nearly  barefoot,  men  are  picking  up  old  mules  and  riding  them.  There 
is  an  enormous  refugee  train  with  us,  negroes  of  all  sizes,  ages,  sexes, 
and  many  white  people  going  along  with  us. 

12th.  Started  out  about  8:00  a.  m.;  marched  rapidly,  as  the  roads 
were  good,  till  we  were  in  about  two  miles  of  Fayetteville,  when  we 
camped.  Country  barren  and  sandy,  covered  with  pitch  pine  trees, 
wh'ich  had  been  scarified  to  get  the  sap  for  turpentine,  resin  and 
pitch.  (The  principal  production  of  tnat  vicinity. — Ed.)  Out  of  ra 
tions,  nothing  to  eat  but  meat;  nothing  expected  until  boats  come  up 
the  river  with  supplies. 

13th.  Laid  still  all  day;  wrote  a  letter  home;  we  put  in  a  requi 
sition  for  clothing,  but  no  idea  when  we  shall  get  it.  Received  no 
mail  or  news.  Do  not  expect  any  until  we  get  to  Goldsboro.  Heard 
the  rebels  were  at  Kingston  in  force. 


224  HISTORY   OF   THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

14th.  Moved  this  morning  toward  the  river;  stacked  arms  at  the 
bank  and  waited  for  the  17th  Corps  to  cross  on  pontoons.  We  then  cross 
ed  over,  marched  across  swamp  to  dry  ground  and  -camped.  Could  see 
gunboats  and  transports  in  the  river  from  Wilmington.  (First  com 
munication  since  we  left  Savannah. — Ed.) 

15th.  Moved  out  this  morning,  our  regiment  as  advance  guard. 
Marched  about  thirteen  miles  and  came  to  Black  river.  Our  regi 
ment  was  selected  to  effect  a  crossing  whHe  the  division  made  a  feint 
on  the  main  road.  Lieut.  Folsom,  with  four  volunteers  in  a  small 
boat,  reconnoitered  and  selected  route.  Before  pontoons  were  laid  he 
drove  back  rebel  pickets,  who  were  cooking  their  supper,  which  they 
captured  and  brought  back  after  effecting  a  landing.  The  rebels 
were  on  the  other  side  fronting  the  road  with  two  pieces  of  artillery. 
While  laying  the  pontoons  they  threw  some  shells  and  shot  at  us,but  did 
nothing  more  than  scare  some  of  the  boys.  I  was  chopping  some 
kindling  from  a  stump.  I  heard  rebel  cannon,  cast  my  eye  that  w~y 
and  see  a  bill  coming,  flying,  tumbling,  like  a  foot  ball.  It  was  nearly 
spent  and  came  so  close  that  I  had  a  chance  to  dodge.  It  stopped  with 
in  ei^ht  feet  of  the  stump  that  I  was  chopping.  I  went  and  picked  it 
up,  as  I  knew  it  was  a  solid  shot.  It  was  quite  warm.  If  it  had  been 
a  shell,  my  business  was  to  get  behind  the  nearest  tree  as  quick  as 
possible.  We  went  up  the  stream  about  a  mile  and  put  in  pontoons 
across  the  main  channel,  which  was  ten  feet  deep.  On  the  other  side 
was  a  swamp  about  400  yards  wide,  and  some  places  over  four  feet 
deep,  which  we  had  to  wade  after  it  was  getting  quite  dark.  The 
Johnnies  evacuated.  We  came  to  their  fires  where  they  were  cooking 
sapper.  We  should  jud^e  there  were  a  good  many  of  them  by  the 
fires.  We  expected,  a  warm  reception,  but  they  retreated  without  mak 
ing  defense.  We  came  to  drive  them  out  and  we  advanced  to  the  top 
of  the  hill  without  much  opposition — one  men  in  compiny  "B"  wound 
ed.  We  went  into  camp  and  sent  skirmishers  out  to  the  front.  We 
could  hear  the  skirmishers  pop,  pop,  bang,  balls  whistling,  shells 
shrieking  amongst  us  as  we  advanced,  while  we  were  wading  the 
swamp.  We  advanced  to  tneir  works  and  camped. 


THE  CROSSING  OF  BLACK  RIVER  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 
By  Major  Saml.  Mahoon. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  campaign  of  Sherman's  army 
through  the  Carolinas  was  made  in  February  and  March,  the  period 
of  heavy  rains  in  that  latitude,  in  consequence  of  which  the  num 
erous  rivers  to  be  crossed  were  running  full  and  overflowing  their 
banks,  covering  the  adjacent  bottoms. 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  225 

On  Wednesday,  March  15,  1865,  our  division  and  brigade  had  the 
advance,  and  reached  Black  River  about  2:00  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
only  to  find  the  bridge  destroyed,  with  the  enemy's  cavalry  in  force  on 
the  other  side,  and  with  the  river  at  flood  stage  covering  the  low 
bottoms. 

Two  companies  of  the  7th  regiment  were  at  once  detailed,  in 
command  of  the  Major,  to  reconnoitre  for  a  crossing.  About  two 
miles  above  the  road  and  burnt  bridge,  an  old  mill  was  found  on  high 
ground,  and  fortunately  also  a  small  rowboat.  In  front  the  river  was 
a  roaring  torrent,  and  beyond  its  natural  bed  could  be  discovered  from 
the  higher  bank  the  low  heavily  timbered  ground,  flooded  as  far  as 
sight  could  reach  through  the  timber.  The  boat  was  at  once  launched 
with  two  trusty  rowers  and  an  officer  on  board,  and  started  on  its  per 
ilous  reconnoissance  across  the  river,  and  finally  disappeared  in  the 
flooded  bottoms  beyond,  to  ascertain,  firstly,  how  far  the  flooded  bot 
tom  extended,  and  secondly,  if  the  bottom  after  crossing  the  main 
channel  was  fordable  for  infantry. 

The  first  attempt  was  unsuccessful,  but  a  second  attempt  under 
Lieut.  Folsom,  of  Co.  B,  proved  more  successful.  They  discovered 
high  ground  a  quarter  of  a  mile  or  more  across  the  bottom,  and  re 
ported  that  frequent  soundings  of  the  route  developed  the  feasibility 
of  infantry  wading  through  it.  No  sooner  was  the  report  made  to 
headquarters  than  the  whole  regiment  was  hurried  to  the  scene,  pon 
toons  were  rapidly  placed  across  the  main  channel,  the  men  directed 
to  tie  their  cartridge  boxes  and  haversacks  round  their  necks,  and 
with  the  reconnoitering  party  as  guides,  the  adventurous  advance  be 
gan  across  an  expanse  of  flooded  bottom,  with  the  chance  of  the  enemy 
opening  fire  at  any  moment,  while  the  command  were  struggling  in 
the  water.  By  this  time  it  had  become  pitch  dark,  but  the  regiment 
reached  the  high  ground  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  soaked  to 
the  skin  and  shivering  in  the  chill  of  a  March  night.  At  intervals 
across  the  submerged  ground  could  be  heard  the  cries  of  comrades  who, 
siezed  with  cramps,  could  not  proceed,  and  were  hanging  to  the  trees 
and  shrubbery  awaiting  help  to  rescue  them  from  their  perilous  po 
sition. 

The  regiment,  however,  formed  immediately  and  moved  down  the 
river  toward  the  bridge,  driving  the  enemy  from  that  side.  The  66th 
Illinois  later  made  an  attempt  to  cross  at  the  same  place  to  reinforce 
the  7th  regiment,  but  in  the  pitch  darkness  the  guide  lost  his  bearings, 
and  striking  deep  water  the  regiment  had  to  double  back  on  itself 
and  return  to  the  hither  side. 

After  crossing  the  river  and  gaining  the  bridge  head  on  the 
enemy's  side,  the  regiment  was  compelled  to  weather  out  the  night 


HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

without  rations  or  blankets,  but  succeeded  "in  drying  their  wet  cloth 
ing  by  building  fires. 

The  pioneer  corps  worked  all  night  on  the  bridge  from  which 
the  enemy  had  been  driven,  and  at  daylight  next  morning  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee  began  crossing. 


16th.  We  did  not  move  till  10:00  a.  m.,  when  all  the  rest  of 
the  division  had  crossed  the  river  and  passed.  Considering  the  hard 
night  we  had  had,  General  Howard  told  Col.  Parrott  not  to  hurry  our 
regiment  to-day,  nor  march  them  until  they  had  rested  and  had  been 
fed.  We  marched  about  twelve  miles  and  camped.  Terrible  rain  in 
the  night  with  heavy  wind. 

17th.  Resumed  our  march  about  sunrise.  Quite  a  contrast  be 
tween  last  night  and  this  morning.  Marched  about  seven  miles  and 
camped  about  noon  near  Little  Cahara  Creek,  when  we  were  ordered 
to  throw  up  works,  which  we  did,  the  first  time  we  had  fortified'  on 
this  campaign. 

18th.  Moved  out  at  9:00  a.  m.,  went  back  on  the  main  road. 
Marched  about  twelve  miles  and  camped  about  sundown.  Just  about 
when  we  were  camping,  passed  a  sign  board  that  said,  "48  miles  from 
Raleigh,  and  28  miles  from  Goldsboro."  The  country  was  settled  with 
very  many  large  plantations.  Weather  clear  and  pleasant. 

March  19th.  Marched  very  slowly  this  morning  with  occasional 
stoppings  until  about  dusk,  when  we  began  to  travel;  crossed  Fallen 
Creek.  Heavy  cannonading  in  the  afternoon  to  our  left.  Reported 
that  the  14th  and  20th  Corps  had  been  repulsed.  Knew  that  there  was 
some  business  going  on  from  the  heavy  cannonading.  Did  not  get 
into  camp  at  all  this  night. 

BATTLE  OF  BENTONVILLE. 

20th.  Morning  found  us  still  marching,  trying  to  turn  right  flank 
of  the  enemy.  By  2:00  p.  m.  from  sunrise  this  morning  we  had  made 
fifteen  miles.  Run  on  to  the  rebels.  Very  hard  skirmishing  in  our 
front.  Saw  General  Sherman,  Logan  and  Blair.  Sherman  walked 
around  as  unconcerned  as  if  nothing  was  going  on.  He  came  and 
stood  by  our  regiment  for  some  time,  looking  over  our  temporary 
works.  Went  out  in  front.  It  seemed  dangerous  for  him  to  do  so,  as, 
if  he  should  get  hurt,  we  would  lose  a  host  in  one  man. 

21st.  Hard  skirmishing  and  fighting  all  day.  Rebels  seemed 
quite  stubborn.  The  fife  major  of  our  regiment  was  wounded. 

22nd.  Laid  still  all  day  in  our  works.  The  rebels  left  this 
morning — retreated.  Went  out  in  our  front  where  the  fight,  was  yester 
day,  saw  a  lot  of  dead  rebels;  some  that  had  been  wounded  and  not  able 
to  get  away  were  burned  in  the  timber  fire  and  leaves  which  had  been 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  227 

set  by  the  battle.  It  was  a  horrible  sight;  the  flesh  was  literally 
roasted  and  charred.  A  pile  of  arms  and  legs  where  the  rebels  had 
a  field  amputation  table. 

23rd.     Marched  towards  Goldsboro. 

24th.  Resumed  the  march  towards  Goldsboro,  crossed  the 
Neuse  river  and  entered  Goldsboro  in  the  afternoon.  As  we  passed 
through  we  were  reviewed  by  General  Sherman.  We  were  rejoined 
by  the  23rd  Army  Corps,  which  we  left  at  Atlanta. 

25th.  Remained  in  camp  all  day;  mail  went  out  to-day.  Camp 
on  the  Newburn  &  Goldsboro  R.  R.  Not  received  rations  yet— prom 
ised  them  to-morrow.  Company  "B"  detailed  for  picket  duty  down  near 
the  R.  R.  No  mail  yet. 

26th.  Company  relieved  from  picket;  drew  full  rations  of  hard 
bread,  sugar,  and  coffee,  but  no  meat;  laid  out  a  permanent  camp, 
expecting  to  remain  here  until  another  general  movement.  Com 
menced  cutting  logs  and  making  shanties. 

27th.  Remained  in  camp  all  day;  received  mail  for  the  first 
time  since  we  came  here;  weather  good. 

28th.  Yet  in  camp;  not  many  supply  trains  running  on  R.  R. 
Said  to  be  busy  at  Newburn.  Weather  good. 

29th.  Weather  cloudy,  threatening  rain.  Received  some  potatoes, 
pickles  and  kraut  from  friends  in  Iowa  for  troops.  They  were  dis 
tributed  by  special  agents  from  home  to  see  that  they  were  given  to 
the  soldiers.  Drew  clothing  and  put  in  requisition  for  more. 

31st.     Weather  fine;    had  dress  parade  in  the  evening. 

April  1st.     In  camp  still;   no  mail  or  news. 

2nd.     Cloudy,  looks  like  rain.     Dress  parade. 

3rd.  Clear  and  pleasant.  No  mail.  Drill  and  dress  parade  in 
the  after  noon. 

4th.  Weather  warm  and  beautiful;   no  mail. 

5th.     In  camp  all  day.     No  mail;   no  news. 

6th.     In  camp.     Heard  that  Richmond  had  fallen. 

7th.     In  camp.     Fall  of  Richmond  confirmed.     Dress  parade. 

8th  and  9th.     Remained  in  camp  statu-quo. 

10th.  Broke  camp;  left  Goldsboro  on  Pikeville  road;  marched 
14  miles  in  rain  in  the  direction  of  Raleigh;  did  not  camp  until  mid 
night.  Weather  gloomy. 

llth.  Resumed  our  march  at  10:00  a.  m.;  went  through  a  very 
swampy  country.  Marched  all  night  and  rested  at  Buffalo  swamp; 
halted  in  the  morning  only  long  enough  to  get  our  breakfast.  March 
ed  twelve  miles. 

12th.  Moved  out  and  marched  18  miles;  got  in  camp  at  10:00 
p.  m.;  men  extremely  fatigued  and  the  roads  lined  with  stragglers. 


228  HISTORY   OF  THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

Men  fell  out  of  the  ranks  exhausted,  falling  asleep  by  the  roadside. 
Heard  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee  to  Gen.  Grant.  13th.  While  halted 
at  noon  official  order  read  of  General  Lee's  surrender,  near  Lowell. 
(The  troops  were  ordered  formed  in  close,  column  by  division  and 
General  Corse  read  the  order  to  us  from  the  top  of  a  stump,  and  troops 
went  wild  with  enthusiasm  and  excitement. — Ed.)  Only  four  miles 
from  Raleigh.  Rained  in  the  morning  but  cleared  up  in  afternoon. 
Country  beautiful  and  fertile,  best  we  have  seen  since  leaving  Tennes 
see  or  Alabama.  People  said  to  be  nearly  all  Quakers,  and  I  believe 
a  great  many  of  them  are  for  the  Union. 

14th.  Marched  out  from  our  camp  at  7:00  a.  m.,  through  Raleigh. 
Reviewed  by  General  Sherman  from  the  Capitol  steps.  Raleigh  is  a 
beautiful  place,  but  small.  The  country  is  not  surpassed  by  anything 
I  have  seen  in  the  south;  the  trees  are  in  new  leaf;  fruit  trees  all  in 
blossom;  everything  has  a  bright,  fresh  and  beautiful  appearance. 
Camped  one  mile  west  of  the  city. 

15th.  .Marched  in  a  northwest  direction  this  morning,  six  miles 
on  Hillsboro  road  towards  Morrisville,  moved  rapidly  making  21  miles, 
but  at  night  was  only  12  miles  from  Raleigh.  In  the  morning  it  rained 
in  torrents,  roads  streaming  with  water,  every  hollow  was  a  creek,  the 
brooks  were  swollen  to  the  size  of  rivers,  and  we  had  to  wade  fre 
quently  in  water  two  and  three  feet  deep.  Camped  on  the  R.  R.  12 
miles  from  Raleigh. 

16th.  Laid  still  all  day.  Various  reports  as  to  surrender  of 
Johnston  with  his  army  current,  but  nothing  known,  had  a  very  wet 
place  for  our  camp.  We  occupied  camp  vacated  by  Kilpatrick's  cav 
alry;  weather  clear  and  pleasant. 

17th.  Laid  in  camp  all  day.  Rumored  that  Abraham  Lincoln 
was  assasinated;  believed  it;  some  did  not;  the  effect  was  apparent, 
a  gloom  fell  over  the  army,  fearing  it  might  be  true.  Many  believe 
that  negotiations  are  going  on  between  Sherman  and  Johnson  in  re 
gard  to  capitulation. 

18th.  The  confirmation  of  the  assasination  of  President  Lin 
coln  officially  announced  by  General  Sherman.  It  is  a  terrible  blow 
to  the  country  and  army.  At  the  same  time  the  joyful  news  was  pro 
claimed  of  the  surrender  of  General  Johnson  with  his  army  from  the 
Rio  Grande  to  the  Potomac. 

19th.  Remained  in  camp.  The  war  really  seems  to  be  over, 
but  we  can  hardly  realize  it.  Various  reports  as  to  when  we  are  go 
ing  home,  nothing  known.  Our  camp  is  in  an  extremely  nasty  wet 
place,  and  very  unhealthy.  We  expected  to  move  back  to  Raleigh  to 
take  up  camp  there.  Remained  in  camp  at  Morrisville.  The  only  topic 
of  conversation  is  when  will  we  go  home?  Many  of  General  Lee's 
paroled  men  around.  Weather  warm  and  beautiful. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  229 

21st.  Moved  back  and  took  up  our  camp  near  Raleigh,  expect 
ing  to  remain  here  until  we  start  home.  Many  reports  as  to  how  we 
are  to  go.  Some  say  we  will  be  transported;  others  that  we  will  have 
to  march  through  to  the  James  river.  The  weather  is  warm  and, 
beautiful,  crops  looking  well,  corn  just  peeping  out  of  the  ground, 
wheat  up  three  inches  high.  This  appears  to  be  about  the  best  wheat 
country  we  have  -visited. 

22nd.  Clearing  up  camp,  cutting  and  burning  brush;  will  have 
a  beautiful  camp  when  we  get  it  cleared  up.  Drew  three  days  rations. 
Weather  fine. 

23rd.  Remained  in  camp  all  day.  No  drill  or  dress  parade  since 
we  came  here. 

25th.     Grant  inspects  the  division  and  army. 

29th.  Moved  in  advance  of  division,  and  in  rear  of  balance  of 
Corps,  10  miles  to  Neuse  river;  crossed  and  went  into  camp  at  dark; 
roads  dusty.  In  camp  till — 

May  1.  Moved  at  9:30  in  rear  Div.  train  18  miles  to  near  Louis- 
burg  on  Tan  river;  passed  through  Rollsville;  went  into  camp  at  dark. 

2nd.  Moved  at  5:00  a.  m.  through  Louisburg  to  near  Rich  Lick 
Creek,  three  miles  from  Warrenton;  passed  through  shady  grove;  went 
into  camp  at  5:00  p.  m. 

3rd.  Moved  at  5:00  a.  m.  through  Warrenton,  N.  C.  Went 
into  camp  at  noon  on  bank  of  Roanoke  river;  distance  15  miles. 

4th.  Moved  across  river  at  noon;  crossed  state  line  into  Vir 
ginia  one  mile  out;  went  into  camp  at  near  Moore's  plantation,  10 
miles  from  Maherrin  river  at  dark;  distance  15  miles. 

5th.  Moved  at  6:00  a.  m.;  crossed  Maherrin  river  and  Reedy 
Creek  to  Nottaway  river  at  Double  Bridge;  went  into  camp  at  dark; 
distance  SO  miles. 

6th.  Moved  at  6:00  a.  m.,  crossing  Nottaway  river,  and  into 
camp  on  Stony  Creek  at  1:30  p.  m.;  distance  16  miles.  The  country 
traveled  over  almost  entirely  destroyed. 

7th.  Moved  at  6:00  a.  m.,  15  miles  to  near  Petersburg;  passed 
Ports  Duchene  and  Wadsworth,  Gen.  Grant's  and  the  enemy's  main 
works  and  rifle-pits;  went  into  camp  at  2:00  p.  m.  within  the  old  rebel 
works 

9th.  Moved  at  8:30  a.  m.;  passed  thVough  Petersburg  in  review; 
moved  out  on  road  to  Richmond;  went  into  camp  at  3:00  p.  m.  11  miles 
from  Petersburg,  between  Proctor's  and  Kingsley's  Creek  and  in  sight 
of  James  River;  distance  13  miles. 

10th.  Marched  at  7:00  a.  m.  towards  Manchester  and  went  into 
camp  at  noon  near  James  River,  one  mile  from  Manchester  and  in 
view  of  Richmond. 

llth.    Visited  Richmond,  Libby  Prison,  Castle  Thunder,  etc. 


230  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

13th.  Marched  at  6:00  a.  m.;  crossed  James  River  at  Manchester 
on  pontoons;  passed  through  the  principal  streets  of  Richmond; 
moved  out  on  Brook  Ave.  towards  Hanover  Court  House,  crossing 
Chickahominy  Creek;  went  into  camp  at  dark  on  Mallory's  plantation, 
15  miles  from  city  and  17  miles  from  camp;  weather  hot;  wagons  did 
not  join  command  owing  to  bad  roads. 

14th.  Moved  at  6:00  a.  m.  six  miles  to  Hanover  C.  H.;  overtook 
17th  Corps;  went  into  camp  at  depot. 

15th.  Moved  at  9:00  a.  m.;  crossed  Pamunky  River  on  pontoons; 
overtook  the  train;  1st  Div.  halted  about  three  hours;  moved  about 
noon  to  White  Chimney,  near  Reedy  Creek;  went  into  camp  at  6:00 
p.  m.  nine  miles  from  Hanover  C.  H. 

16th.  Moved  at  5:30  a.  m.;  crossed  Reedy  Creek  and  Mottapony 
River;  passed  through  Bowling  Green  at  noon  and  went  into  camp  on 
Mill  Creek  at  5:00  p.  m.;  distance  18  miles. 

17th.  Moved  at  5:00  a.  m.  on  Fredericksburg  road;  passed 
through  that  place  at  noon;  visited  tomb  of  Martha  Washington;  went 
into  camp  at  5:30  p.  m.  on  Potomac  Creek;  weather  hot;  distance 
24  mile*. 

18th.  Moved  at  5; 00  a.  m.  in  advance  Div.;  passed  Stafford  C. 
H.;  crossed  Agina  Creek  at  Agina;  crossed  Copawawsee  Creek  and 
rested  three  hours  on  bank  of  Guantico  Creek  at  Dumfries;  went  into 
camp  at  6:00  p.  m.  near  Powell's  Creek;  distance  20  miles;  heavy 
rain  in  evening. 

19th.  Moved  at  10:00  a.  m.;  crossed  Occaguan  Creek  at  noon; 
went  into  camp  at  dark;  distance  15  miles. 

20th.  Moved  at  5:30  a.  m.;  passed  through  Alexandria;  went 
into  camp  at  1:00  p.  m.,  two  miles  from  town  up  the  river;  distance 
nine  miles. 

21st  and  22nd.    In  camp. 

23rd.  Moved  at  10:00  a.  m.  to  near  Long  Bridge;  went  and 
camped  on  the  Potomac,  opposite  Washington,  near  Long  Bridge. 
Preparing  to  take  part  in  the  Grand  Review  tomorrow.  Army  of  the 
Potomac  being  reviewed  today,  together  with  the  cavalry  of  the  East 
ern  Army.  Sherman's  Army  are  getting  to  look  well  in  their  new  uni 
forms,  and  will  make  a  good  appearance  to-morrow.  Drew  some 
sanitary  goods  Saturday,  such  as  pickles,  can  fruit,  tomatoes,  and 
pocket  handkerchiefs.  Weather  beautiful. 

24th.  Moved  out  this  morning,  crossed  Long  Bridge,  passed  in 
review  in  the  City  of  Washington.  Reviewed  by  Generals  Grant, 
Sherman  and  others,  also  President,  Secretary  of  War,  members  of 
the  Cabinet  with  their  ladies  and  others.  It  was  a  splendid  military 
show.  We  were  welcomed  by  the  people  of  Washington  and  the  na- 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  231 

tion.  The  city  was  beautifully  decorated  with'  festoons  of  drapery, 
flags  and  banners  with  mottoes  of  "Welcome,1'  "All  Hail  Western 
Heroes,"  "Vicksburg,"  "Shiloh,"  "Atlanta,"  "Savannah,"  "Raleigh," 
"Mission  Ridge,"  "Welcome  15th  and  17th  Army  Corps,"  and  other 
tokens.  I  think  this  was  the  proudest  day  of  my  life.  We  had  heard 
so  much  about  the  superiority  and  appearance  of  tne  Eastern  army 
that  we  were  a  little  fearful  they  might  outdo  us  in  show  and  drill, 
especially  after  our  long,  arduous  campaigns  and  marches  just  finish 
ed,  and  before  we  had  opportunity  to  drill  and  brush  up;  but  we  hired 
their  bands  and  with  a  determination  to  do  our  best,  started  in.  I 
witnessed  the  review  of  the  Eastern  troops  the  day  before,  and  while 
I  did  not  think  them  so  stalwart  and  robust  as  the  boys  of  the  West, 
I  had  to  acknowledge  they  made  a  fine  appearance.  I  was  then  an 
aid-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  Brevt.  Maj.  General  Rice,  and  rode  with 
him,  heading  the  Fourth  Division  of  the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  We 
came  around  the  Capitol  building  and  heacted  up  Pensylvania  Ave. 
marching  in  column;  it  seemed  to  me  the  alignment  was  perfect,  and 
the  majestic  cadence  of  that  triumphant  army  that  had  never  been 
defeated  was  simply  grand  and  magnificent.  As  the  head  of  the  col 
umn  wheeled  to  the  right  at  the  Treasury  building,  I  turned  in  my 
saddle  and  looked  back  the  length  of  the  avenue,  and,  as  I  saw  that 
triumphant  army,  keeping  exact  step  to  the  inspiring  music  of  the 
bands,  amid  the  mad  enthusiasm  of  the  spectators,  I  could  not  restrain 
the  tears  of  joy  and  pride.  Then  when  Sherman's  Bummers,  with 
their  mules  loaded  with  camp  kettles  and  mess  pans,  crested  with 
crowing  roosters  and  negroes,  there  was  such  a  vociferous  yell  of  de 
light  by  the  multitude  that  witnessed  it  that  it  fairly  rent  the  heavens. 
We  marched  out  H  street  to  where  now  is  the  Soldiers'  Home  and 
went  into  camp. 

25th.  Remained  in  camp  cleaning  up,  policing,  and  putting  up 
tents;  will  have  a  beautiful  camp  when  we  get  cleaned  up.  We  are 
allowed  to  cut  small  timber  to  make  bunks  with,  but  not  allowed  to 
use  or  burn  any  rails.  We  are  about  three  miles  north  of  Washington, 
(out  H  street)  but  not  in  view  of  the  city.  Weather  gloomy  with 
prospect  of  rain.  A  visitor  was  here  to-day  from  Charles  City,  Iowa, 
Frank  Wright,  who  was  well  acquainted  with  some  of  the  boys. 

26th.  Visited  Washington  to-day.  Went  through  the  Capitol, 
Patent  Office  and  Smithsonian  Institute.  Was  in  the  President's  room, 
Halls  of  Congress,  etc.  It  is  not  possible  to  describe  the  grandeur  of 
the  building.  It  is  sufficient  on  first  entering  to  fill  the  spectator  with 
awe. 

27th.  Remained  in  camp  to-day;  many  went  visiting  Wash 
ington.  Should  have  gone  myself,  but  did  not  like  to  stay  away  from 
camp  so  much  without  permission.  No  drill  or  dress  parade  as  we 


232  HISTORY  OF  *HE  SEVENTH  IOWA 

generally  have  had  before.  Some  visitors  in  camp,  people  from  the 
North,  visiting  the  boys  in  the  army. 

28th.  Everything  still  to-day;  weather  beautiful;  no  inspection 
or  dress  parade.  It  appears  as  though  discipline  is  not  going  to  be 
strictly  enforced  as  previously.  Heard  of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith's  surrender. 
All  men  not  having  one  year  to  serve  are  being  mustered  out.  Ex 
pect  to  be  paid  this  week.  Read  "Napoleon  and  His  Marshals." 

29th.  Everything  quiet;  weather  beautiful.  We  are  longing  for 
the  time  to  come  when  we  shall  start  homeward.  Papers  say  Army  of 
Georgia  ordered  to  Virginia  side  of  Potomac,  and  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  there  to  be  disbanded  and  sent  to  their 
own  states  and  mustered  out.  It  was  not  an  order  but  I  hope  it  may 
be  true. 

30th.  In  camp  all  day;  had  orders  to  have  everything  prepared 
to  start  on  our  journey  home,  with  four  days  cooked  rations.  Go  by  rail 
to  Parkersburg,  from  there  by  boat  down  the  Ohio  river  to  Louisville, 
Ky.  Had  dress  parade. 

31st.  Laid  still  all  day;  dress  parade  in  the  evening.  1st  Div. 
and  part  of  the  2nd  started  for  Louisville.  Expect  to  leave  to-morrow. 
Regiment  required  to  wear  their  Corps  badges. 

June  1st.  Laid  still  all  day.  Expect  to  leave  to-morrow  for 
Louisville.  Weather  beautiful. 

2nd.  Marched  out  to  depot  about  10:00  a.  m.;  drew  two  days  ra 
tions  and  embarked  on  the  cars;  at  2:00  p.  m.  at  Annapolis  Junction, 
took  the  left  hand  road  via  Harpers  Ferry,  where  we  arrived  at 
daylight  in  the  morning. 

3rd.  Still  on  our  railroad  journey;  slow  progress,  only  made 
150  miles. 

4th.  Reached  Grafton  Junction  at  daylight.  Go  from  here  to 
Parkersburg;  crossed  the  Alleghanies;  had  to  put  on  two  locomotives 
to  climb  them. 

5th.  Found  ourselves  at  Parkersburg  this  morning;  had  a  chance 
to  make  coffee  for  the  first  time;  marched  down  to  the  Ohio  river; 
found  a  fleet  of  boats  waiting  for  us;  boarded  a  stern  wheeler  called 
the  Camelia;  run  down  the  river  about  fifty  miles;  changed  boats  for 
a  larger  one  called  the  Telegraph,  a  side  wheeler,  splendid  boat. 

6th.     Still  on  our  journey  down  the  Ohio. 

7th.  Arrived  at  Cincinnatti  at  2:00  p.  m.,  reached  Louisville  at 
6:00  p.  m.;  debarked  and  marched  about  six  miles  and  went  into  camp. 
It  was  exceedingly  warm  and  the  men  fell  out  exhausted;  straggling 
equal  to  anything  ever  witnessed.  Men  feel  bitter  that  they  should  be 
forced  to  such  extremes  now  that  the  war  is  over. 

8th.  Moved  our  camp  this  morning  to  place  selected.  Have  a 
beautiful  place,  with  beech  and  mulberry  trees  for  shade;  water  handy. 
Drizzling  rain. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY 

9th.  Remained  in  camp.  Went  to  Woodlawn  races  in  the  af 
ternoon.  Rained  some. 

10th.  Went  to  the  races  in  the  afternoon;  saw  Asteroid  run 
a  three  mile  heat  and  win  the  race  against  Red  Oak  and  Loadstone. 
Loadstone  bolted  and  Red  Oak  distanced.  Half  the  regiment  in  the 
guard  house  for  running  the  guards  and  going  to  the  races.  All  re 
leased  soon  after  dark.  (The  race  track  was  less  than  half  a  mile 
from  camp. — Ed.) 

llth.  Remained  in  camp.  Was  told  by  the  officers  several  days 
ago  that  we  should  have  lumber  to  build  bunks  to  keep  us  off  the 
damp  ground,  which  promise  is  not  yet  fulfilled.  No  wood  to  cook 
with  and  strict  orders  not  to  burn  fences.  Men  restless,  threatening 
to  do  something  desperate  if  something  is  not  done  for  us  soon. 
Heat  unbearable. 

12th.  Remained  in  camp,  nothing  of  importance  going  on. 
Men  are  getting  very  uneasy  with  an  intense  desire  to  go  home. 
Went  to  meeting  in  the  evening  to  a  church  near  the  Woodlawn  race 
course.  Weather  showery;  heat  desperate. 

13th.  Laid  in  camp  all  day.  Nothing  done  about  lumber,  are 
compelled  to  lay  on  the  ground.  We  are  told  that  we  were  going 
home,  but  that  appears  to  be  about  the  same  as  the  fuel  arid  lumber 
question.  I  know  of  nothing  more  outrageous  than  this  treatment, 
whether  from  the  government  or  others  in  power.  Had  dress  parade. 

14th.  Remained  in  camp.  Regiment  went  on  guard  along  the 
road.  A  sutler  opened  up,  claiming  the  right  to  sell  to  our  regiment. 
Weather  beautiful. 

15th.  Remained  in  camp;  regiment  on  grand  guard.  Weather 
beautiful. 

16th.  Remained  in  camp.  Had  inspection.  52nd  Ills,  being  paid 
off.  Weather  very  warm. 

17th.  Paid  off  to-day,  getting  once  more  some  of  Uncle  Sam's 
greenbacks. 

18th.  Nothing  transpiring  to-day;  heavy  rain  storm  in  the 
evening. 

19th.    Laid  in  camp;    everything  quiet;    had  inspection  of  arms. 

July  3.     Prize  drill  on  Woodlawn  course. 

4th.     General   Sherman  takes  farewell   of  the  Division. 

5th.     52nd  Ills,  mustered  out. 

9th.     12th  Ills,  mustered  out. 

llth.     7th  Iowa  mustered  out.     2nd  Iowa  mustered  out. 

12th.     50th  Ills,  mustered  out. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Ridgeway  station,  near 
Louisville,  K.,  July  14th,  1865,  and  sent  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  there 
provided  with  transportation  to  our  different  homes. 


234  HISTORY  OF  THE  SEVENTH  IOWA 

WHAT  I  REMEMBER  OF  COMPANY  "B." 
By  Andy  Pelt. 

Soon  after  the  fall  of  Port  Sumpter  there  commenced  the  or 
ganization  of  an  independant  volunteer  company  in  Chickasaw  coun 
ty  designated  "The  Lincoln  Guards."  In  May,  if  memory  serves  me 
right,  the  company  was  organized  by  the  election  of  Gideon  Gardner 
Captain,  Robt.  G.  Reniger  1st  Lieutenant,  George  Dodge  2nd  Lieu 
tenant,  Fred  Bosworth  Orderly.  This  company  became  Co.  "B,"  of 
the  famous  Seventh  Iowa  Infantry.  It  was  a  bitter  disappointment 
to  all  of  us  that  many  weeks  elapsed  before  we  were  sworn  into  the 
U.  S.  service  at  Camp  Warren,  Burlington.  I  shall  never  forget  the 
trip  from  Nashua  to  Dubuque.  There  were  "copperheads"  in  those 
days.  Soon  after  our  arrival  attention  was  called  to  the  fact  that 
Dennis  A.  Mahoney  had  failed  to  display  the  flag  at  his  newspaper 
office  as  "The  Lincoln  Guards"  marched  by  it.  Lieut.  Reniger,  Mr. 
Tisdale  and  myself  were  appointed  a  committee  to  call  on  Mr.  Ma- 
honey  and  ask  him  to  hoist  the  flag  over  his  office.  Being  the  only 
democrat  on  the  committee,  the  writer  was  named  to  "speak"  to  Mr. 
Mahoney.  The  flag  was  put  up  at  once  and  all  was  serene. 

You  and  I  will  never  forget  our  reception  at  St.  Louis.  "Hurrah 
for  Jeff  Davis"  was  frequently  heard  and,  looking  back  at  the  inci 
dent,  after  all  that  has  passed,  the  wonder  is  that  there  was  not  a 
riot  before  we  reached  Benton  Barracks. 

Lieut.  Dodge  and  the  writer  had  leave  to  visit  the  city  one  day 
and  went  to  the  hospital  near  Fourth  and  Olive  to  visit  some  of  our 
boys  sick  with  measles.  There  were  hundreds  of  cases  in  the  hospital. 
I  noticed  few  men  in  attendance,  but  scores  of  "Sisters  of  Mercy," 
caring  for  our  sick  comrades.  This  is  mentioned  because  it  illustrates 
how  one  little  incident  may  knock  a  car  load  of  prejudice  out  of  a 
human  heart.  From  that  day  to  this,  devoted  Protestant  as  I  am,  I 
have  never  met  any  member  of  the  Catholic  woman's  benevolent  so 
cieties  that  I  have  not  lifted  my  hat  and  bowed  my  head,  in  memory 
of  that  St.  Louis  hospital  in  1861.  It  taught  me  more  clearly  the  les 
sons  of  charity  and  fraternity  than  all  previous  experience  and  ob 
servation. 

Companies  "B"  and  "H"  were  sent  on  detached  duty  to  Potosi 
to  watch  the  lead  interests.  Our  captain  was  post  commandant,  and 
the  writer  was  post  adjutant.  Perhaps  the  boys  will  remember  the 
little  paper  we  published — "Lauman's  Left  Bower."  Wish  I  had  a 
copy  of  it.  The  unique  name  was  my  suggestion.  Za  Rutnerford  and 
the  writer  slept  in  the  office  while  the  little  paper  was  being  born, 
for  fear  the  Johnnies  would  steal  it.  Now  don't  you  laugh!  You  re- 


VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  235 

member  "The  Flag  Order?"  Wasn't  it  absurd?  Some  of  the  boys 
had  hoisted  the  stars  and  stripes  over  a  red  barn.  Some  fellow  sadly 
in  need  of  a  baptism  of  patriotic  common  sense  went  to  the  comman- 
dent  and  roared  because  of  that  flag  raising.  The  commandant  told 
tne  adjutant  to  write  an  order  forbidding  such  flag  raisings.  The 
adjutant  handed  him  this:  "If  any  man  haul  down  the  American 
Flag,  shoot  him  on  the  spot. — John  A.  Dix."  That  ended  the  flag 
incident  so  far  as  the  adjutant  was  concerned. 

Another  amusing  thing  comes  to  my  mind.  A  Connecticut 
Yankee  owned  a  farm  and  many  fat  sheep  near  fotosi.  The  boys 
had  peaches,  cream  and  mutton!  That  Yankee  was  one  of  the  mean 
est  rebels  in  that  neck  of  the  woods.  He  would  neither  fight  or  run 
away.  He  complained  to  the  commandant  that  our  boys  were  eating 
his  sheep.  The  captain  thought  that  impossible,  but  the  taste  of  lamb 
was  in  his  mouth  so  he  referred  the  fellow  to  the  adjutant.  The  lat 
ter  replied  that  sheep  had  often  invaded  the  camp  and  had  been  killed 
in  self  detense.  The  old  chap's  comments  would  not  read  well  in  print. 

You  remember  we  found  Mose  Conger,  of  Floyd,  residing  at 
Potosi.  Charlie  Trott,  as  brave  and  true  a  man  as  lives,  was  taken 
ill  of  fever.  My  request  secured  for  him  good  care  and  quarters  at 
the  Conger  residence.  After  the  raid  on  Webster,  where  we  captured 
several  tons  of  bacon,  I  ordered  the  driver  to  leave  several  hundred 
pounds  of  that  bacon  at  Congers.  You  see  my  idea  was  that  Charlie 
Trott  would  be  cured  by  the  bacon,  ana  that  the  Congers  needed  it 
in  their  business.  I  reported  all  the  Webster  capture  to  headquarters 
at  St.  Louis,  but  did  not  mention  the  bacon  left  at  Congers.  That  is 
the  only  act  of  the  writer  that  can  be  construed  as  defrauding  Uncle 
Sam. 

One  day  news  came  that  Jeff  Thompson  was  burning  bridges 
and  that  we  were  cut  off  from  St.  Louis.  Telegraph  wires  were  cut. 
There  was  a  Union  force  at  Ironton  south  ol  us.  I  volunteered  with 
G.  J.  Tisdale  to  go  to  Ironton  for  supplies  of  cartridges  and  other 
things.  We  went  on  a  locomotive  from  Mineral  Point.  It  was  an  ex 
citing  ride.  The  engineer  was  a  staunch  Union  man.  He  said  to  us, 
"All  you  fellows  have  to  do  is  to  hang  on!"  That  locomotive  danced 
all  sorts  of  jigs  on  that  crooked  track,  and  it  seemed  to  me  that  we 
would  certainly  be  "spilled"  out,  but  we  arrived  at  Ironton  all  right. 
If  it  was  to  do  over  again,  the  writer  would  let  the  other  fellow  take 
the  ride.  The  order  for  supplies  was  safely  hidden  in  my  shirt  pocket. 
Adjt.  Gen.  Dutch  told  me  I  had  better  wash  my  face  before  seeing  the 
commandant.  A  glance  at  the  mirror  told  me  that  the  coal  dust  and 
smoke  had  made  me  black  as  a  negro.  Dutch  was  the  son  of  Alfred 
Dutch,  formerly  of  a  Chicago  daily  paper,  and  treated  us  royally.  He 
said  his  mother  was  a  Felt.  "There  is  something  in  a  name."  We 


2,36  HISTORY  OP  THE  SEVENTH  IOWA 

secured  the  supplies  and  returned  to  Potosi,  and  companies  "B"  and 
"H"  were  sure  they  could  "put  down  the  rebellion"  in  short  order. 

A  few  years  ago  Hon.  Wm.  Tucker  wrote  me  from  Washington, 
enclosing  a  letter  I  had  written  him  from  Potosi.  He  said  it  contained 
a  prophecy  worth  preserving.  In  that  letter  I  had  written  him  that 
the  rebellion  would  never  be  conquered  until  the  slaves  were  treated 
as  contraband  of  war  the  same  as  mules  and  other  property.  That 
was  the  sentiment  of  every  man  in  Co.  "B"  so  far  as  could  be  learned 
at  that  time.  Years  afterward  the  entire  North  applauded  Gen.  Butler 
for  uttering  the  same  sentiment  entertained  by  Co.  "B"  in  September, 
1861.  But  events  make  history  and  the  dictum  of  a  major-general  far 
outweighs  the  expression  of  private  soldiers. 

STORY  OF  THE  MAN  IN  THE  BLOUSE. 

Soon  after  the  detachment  joined  the  regiment  at  Ironton,  Col. 
Lauman  ordered  a  detail  of  twenty-seven  from  Co.  "B"  for  headquarter 
guard  duty.  The  writer  was  made  officer  of  the  guard. 

This  incident  showed  how  little  our  officers  then  knew  of  mili 
tary  usage. 

The  brigade  at  Ironton  was  commanded  by  U.  S.  Grant.  None 
of  us  had  ever  heard  of  him.  We  were  all  in  love  with  Col.  Lauman. 
The  officer  of  the  day  was  from  Hecker's  regiment.  When  we  went 
on  duty  as  guards  at  the  court  house  the  officer  instructed  me,  "Do 
not  allow  any  person  to  approach  that  commissary  building."  After 
the  guards  had  been  stationed,  unearthly  noises  in  the  basement  of 
the  court  house  began  to  annoy  me.  Toward  sundown  my  investiga 
tion  showed  that  a  score  of  Hecker's  men  were  confined  there  and 
had  been  there  since  the  night  before,  sent  up  for  drunks  and  disor 
derly  conduct.  Not  a  word  of  instruction  had  been  given  me  regarding 
the  men  in  the  guard  house,  so,  after  dark,  when  the  noisy  complaints 
of  the  prisoners  became  unbearable,  I  unlocked  the  door  and  told 
the  men  to  "go  and  sin  no  more."  Why  I  was  not  locked  up  for  the 
trick  I  cannot  understand.  If  there  was  a  more  verdant  man  in  the 
army  than  the  writer,  he  has  not  been  discovered. 

About  10:00  p.  m.  I  heard  the  sentinel  at  the  commissary  ouilding 
cry,  "Halt!"  and  at  once  went  to  learn  the  cause.  He  (it  was  Frank 
Hurley,  I  think)  told  me  that  two  men  had  tried  to  pass  him  toward 
the  building,  and  he  told  them  "Halt,  damn  you,  or  I'll  shoot."  The 
men  vanished. 

I  praised  him  for  his  courage  and  returned  to  the  court  house 
and  was  making  an  entry  on  the  guard  book  when  a  man  in  uniform 
and  sword  entered  and  said,  "Where  is  the  officer  of  the  guard?"  He 
was  promptly  told  that  the  writer  was  the  officer  of  the  guard.  He 
seemed  to  doubt  my  word.  My  uniform  was  a  pair  of  citizen's  pants, 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  237 

shoes,  a  grey  wool  shirt  and  an  old  slouched  hat.  He  eyed  me  keenly 
and  finally  said,  "You  will  report  at  General  Grant's  headquarters  at 
once."'  It  was  my  turn  to  look  at  him  pretty  sharp.  I  replied,  "Tell 
the  General  I  will  come  down  pretty  soon."  If  the  look  of  surprised 
casdain  on  that  officers  face  could  be  placed  on  canvas  it  would  sell 
for  a  fortune.  A  few  minutes  later  I  went  down  to  the  cottage  in  the 
orchard  where  Grant  had  his  headquarters.  The  sentinel  told  me 
there  was  a  screw  loose.  The  door  was  open  and  I  walked  in  without 
removing  my  hat.  "Young  man  you  should  remove  your  hat  when  you 
enter  here."  This  was  said  by  a  handsome  man  in  a  new  uniform 
whom  I  promptly  saluted,  thinking  to  myself  that  Grant  was  a  good 
looker  and  fine  dresser.  There  was  a  cheap  table  in  the  room,  behind 
which  sat  a  smallish  man  with  a  sandy  beard.  He  wore  an  old  blouse 
and  I  supposed  he  was  the  cook  or  hostler.  He  addressed  me.  "Are 
you  the  officer  of  the  guard?  What  order  did  you  give  the  sentry 
at  the  commissary  building?" 

The  surprise  at  being  thus  addressed  by  "the  man  in  the  blouse," 
almost  dazed  me.  But  direct  answers  were  made  to  his  inquiries. 
Then  came  this,  "Did  yon  order  him  to  shoot  without  asking  the 
countersign?"  It  was  explained  to  him  that  no  countersign  had  been 
given  to  us  and  orders  given  to  shoot.  Then  "How  are  the  members 
of  my  staff  who  sleep  in  that  building  to  go  in  there  tonight?"  "Your 
staff  nor  any  one  else  can  enter  that  building.  My  orders  are  to  allow 
no  person  to  pass  the  guard  line." 

If  you  could  have  seen  the  look  on  the  face  of  the  sandy  bearded 
"man  in  the  blouse"  at  that  moment  you  would  never  have  forgotten 
the  scene.  His  lips  were  set  like  a  steel  trap.  His  eyes  gave  a  steady 
light,  causing  it  to  dawn  on  my  dull  mind  that  "the  man  in  the  blouse" 
was  General  Grant! 

It  seemed  to  me  he  would  never  stop  looking  into  my  eyes.  But 
it  was  only  for  a  few  seconds.  Then  a  smile  seemed  to  be  struggling 
for  a  place  on  his  lips  and  he  said  in  a  pleasant  tone: 

"Young  man,  you  can  go  to  your  post  again." 

The  young  man  went.  Little  did  I  then  dream  that  in  later  life 
in  two  national  conventions  my  vote  would  be  cast  for  that  sandy 
bearded  "man  in  the  blouse"  for  President  of  the  United  States. 

No  member  of  Grant's  staff  slept  in  that  commissary  building 
that  night.  The  interview  in  the  orchard  cottage  gave  me  a  night 
mare  for  the  remaining  hours  on  duty,  and  when  the  writer  related 
the  affair  to  Col.  Lauman  the  next  day,  that  grand,  brave  commander 
of  the  7th  Iowa,  said:  "Don't  worry,  young  man;  you  obeyed  orders 
to  the  letter,  and  I  will -stand  by  you."  That  was  the  last  of  it  so 
far  as  the  writer  knows,  but  this  Grant  incident  is  properly  enough 


238  HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

related  in  these  confessions  of  a  chump  who  knew  but  precious  little 
of  military  affairs,  but  did  the  best  he  knew. 

One  of  the  worst  scares  I  had  in  the  service  was  at  Charleston 
bridge  where  Co.  "B"  had  been  sent  from  Bird's  Point.  We  had  gone 
into  camp  at  dusk.  The  Johnnies  had  fired  the  bridge  and  fled.  It 
was  October.  Eights  out;  no  fires.  Our  position  was  to  be  kept  secret. 
The  night  was  dark.  Suddenly  a  gun  shot  on  the  picket  line.  "Every 
body  fall  in!"  Then  came  the  loud  spuealing  or  a  pig.  Everybody  was 
hungry  in  a  minute.  No  enemy  but  the  pig.  He  'was  a  Johnny  cross 
ing  the  picket  line  and  was  shot.  Order  for  secrecy  reversed.  A 
fire  was  kindled.  The  pig  was  roasted  and  eaten.  Then  fate  was 
grim  again.  A  picket  came  in  and  said  hundreds  of  Johnnies  were  at 
the  bridge.  The  fire  cast  a  dim  light  over  the  river  bottom  and  there 
seemed  to  be  hundreds  of  men  standing  west  of  the  bridge.  Not  much 
sleep.  All  ready  for  trouble  at  daybreak.  The  dawn  solved  the  mys 
tery.  Not  a  Johnny  within  five  miles.  Clumps  of  cypress  knees  out 
lined  in  the  firelight  had  caused  the  fright.  "One  may  as  well  be 
killed  as  frightened  to  death." 

Nov.  9th  the  regiment  embarked  at  Bird's  Point  with  the  Grant 
Brigade  to  drive  the  enemy  from  Belmont.  Lieut.  Dodge  and  the 
writer  had  tented  together.  His  manner  that  morning  impressed  me 
deeply.  He  insisted  that  we  should  leave  our  watches  and  valuables 
in  the  tent.  He  seemed  sure  that  he  would  be  killed  that  day.  No 
reasoning  of  mine  could  remove  the  shadow  from  his  heart.  There 
was  a  Damon  and  Pythias  affection  between  us.  His  mood  saddened 
me.  He  was  of  faultless  deportment,  brave,  generous  and  true.  In 
the  midst  of  the  battle,  when  the  air  was  sulphurous  with  bursting 
shell,  and  the  leaves  under  the  trees  were  on  fire;  when  all  was  confu 
sion;  after  Col.  Lauman  and  Capt.  Gardner  had  been  shot  and  left 
the  field;  when  dead  and  dying  men  in  blue  and  gray  were  tinting  the 
earth  with  their  life  blood,  Geo.  Dodge  was  seeking  to  rally  the  scat 
tered  men.  Panic  was  in  the  air.  An  Illinois  soldier  was  dying  at 
my  feet;  he  begged  for  water.  I  lifted  his  head,  gave  him  water  from 
my  canteen,  and  tried  to  make  him  more  easy.  Dodge  ran  up  to  me 
saying:  "Hurry  Andy!  We  are  being  surrounded." 

I  intended  to  follow  him  at  once  but  the  dying  man  implored 
me  to  loosen  his  belt,  which  I  did  just  as  his  life  went  out.  Troops 
were  hurrying  past  and  at  that  moment  a  field  officer  rode  up  and  com 
manded  the  remnant  of  boys  to  pull  a  cannon  up  a  little  mound.  His 
order  was  obeyed.  There  were  not  over  forty  of  us  of  different  regi 
ments.  Col.  Wentz  rode  up  and  pointed  to  a  steamer  laden  with  John 
nies  coming  across  from  Columbus.  The  gun  was  aimed  at  the  boat 
and  the  ball  went  through  the  smoke  stack,  we  were  told  later.  A 
volley  from  the  woods  west  of  us  wounded  some  of  tmr  men.  It  seemed 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  239 

to  me  that  the  Illinois  regiment  in  cadet  uniform  was  firing  upon  us 
by  mistake.  Moving  a  few  paces  toward  them  as  they  had  ceased  fir 
ing,  I  yelled  to  them  "Don't  fire,  this  is  the  Seventh  Iowa."  Then  they 
gave  the  "yell"  and  started  towards  us  on  the  double  quick. 

Then  one  of  those  fool  things  happened.  So  soon  as  it  was  seen 
that  we  were  in  a  cul  de  sac  our  boys  fired  at  them.  We  had  then 
about  thirty  men  unhurt.  The  regiment  of  Johnnies  returned  the  fire 
and  in  a  moment  were  upon  us.  Tannahill  was  standing  by  my  side 
when  the  hail  storm  of  bullets  broke  loose.  Placing  his  hand  to  his 
chin  I  noticed  that  his  chin  whiskers  had  been  plowed  through,  draw 
ing  blood  from  a  skin  wound  on  his  throat.  Col.  Wentz  was  killed. 
Morton  shot  through  the  abdomen.  Howard  and  Za  Rutherford  badly 
wounded  in  the  arm.  Calab  Green  shot  in  the  breast.  Every  man 
there  had  a  close  call.  A  dozen  men  of  other  companies  were  badly 
wounded.  Something  occurred  to  me  then.  A  dozen  Johnnies  seemed 
determined  to  have  a  ring  from  my  finger.  Then  my  tongue  broke 
loose.  It  never  did  have  any  sense.  An  officer  dressed  in  a  red  shirt 
and  slouched  hat  pushed  the  men  aside  and  said: 

"I  will  take  charge  of  this  man." 

My  thought  was,  "Grevious  words  stir  up  anger"  and  my  doom 
is  at  hand.  The  officer  pointed  to  my  breast  and  uttered  words  I  un 
derstood.  Then  I  noticed  that  the  belt  passing  over  my  shoulder  had 
been  ripped  by  a  bullet  revealing  a  mystic  pin  fastened  to  the  breast 
of  my  coat.  He  had  noticed  the  pin. 

At  the  moment  a  mounted  Johnny  came  riding  up  carrying  the 
blood  stained  and  bullet  torn  flag  of  one  of  our  regiments.  Then  in 
spite  of  my  efforts  to  be  calm,  my  lips  quivered  and  the  unbidden  tears 
rolled  down  my  cheeks.  Seeking  for  my  handkerchief,  and  not  finding 
it,  it  came  to  my  mind  that  it  had  been  used  to  bind  up  the  wounded 
hand  of  comrade  Cotton  several  hours  before.  The  officer  said,  "I  will 
take  you  to  the  boat  and  go  with  you  to  Columbus."  He  was  informed 
that  Za  Rutherford  and  Caleb  Greene  must  be  taken  with  me,  and 
that  they  must  be  cared  for.  He  promptly  assented.  So  the  solemn 
march  began.  The  boys  were  dying  of  thirst.  A  Johnny  said  he 
would  fill  my  canteen  for  me.  The  canteen  never  came  back. 

The  trip  oVer  the  river  was  short  but  it  seemed  an  age  to  me. 
Co.  "B"  had  been  cut  to  pieces.  I  recalled  that  H.  I.  Smith  had  been 
terribly  wounded  while  almost  at  my  elbow.  The  picture  of  all  the 
boys  from  Floyd  and  Chickasaw  passed  before  my  eyes  like  a  vivid 
dream. 

At  Columbus  the  sidewalks  were  literally  covered  with  the 
bodies  of  dead  and  dying  men;  many  of  them  Seventh  Iowa  boys,  but 
mostly  of  Illinois  regiments,  and  many  boys  in  gray.  We  were  taken 
to  a  dirty  barge  lying  at  the  wharf  and  surprised  to  find  it  nearly 


240  HISTORY   OP   THE  8EVENTH   IOWA 

full  of  prisoners  taken  over  the  river  ahead  of  us.  Am  sorry  have  lost 
name  of  the  Tennessee  captain  in  the  red  flannel.  He  took  my  brother-in- 
law,  Za  Rutherford,  to  the  rebel  hospital  and  took  me  along  to  assist  him. 
From  this  the  rebels  mistook  me  for  a  surgeon.  I  helped  dress  Ruth 
erford's  very  serious  wounds,  but  soon  convinced  the  Johnnies  that 
I  knew  no  more  of  surgery  than  a  cat  does  of  Kansas  politics.  The 
rebel  hospital  was  over  the  post  office,  and  the  discovery  soon  made 
that  the  rebel  dead  and  wounded  far  outnumbered  ours.  It  was  an 
awful  place. 

On  Sunday  the  postmaster  came  in  and  said  to  me,  "Gen.  Jeff 
Thompson  is  down  stairs  and  wants  to  see  you."  That  was  not  the 
kind  of  news  to  make  me  happy,  but  down  stairs  we  went.  Gen.  Jeff 
said,  "When  mayor  of  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  I  went  off  to  Chicago  on  a  big 
drunk  with  several  Iowa  mayors,  perhaps  you  know  them  and  can 
tell  me  about  them."  It  happened  that  two  of  them  were  friends  of 
mine.  (One  was  Gen.  Hodgdon,  of  Dubuque.)  So  the  visit  with  Jeff 
was  a  short  respite.  When  he  left  he  said,"Come,Iowa,give  us  a  toast." 
I  promptly  replied,  "Well,  General,  here  is  to  the  American  Union!" 

Quick  as  a  flash  he  poured  water  into  the  glass  of  brandy,  and 
said,  "All  right,  Iowa,  half  and  half,"  and  shaking  my  hand  hastily, 
off  he  went.  He  was  witty  of  speech  and  a  dangerous  bushwhacker. 

The  wounded  were  taken  up  the  river  and  exchanged.  That  left 
105  who  were  taken  down  the  river.  Seven  of  these,  I  think,  were  of 
Co.  "B."  The  balance  mostly  Illinois  men.  There  were  several  cap 
tains  and  staff  officers.  Morton  died  on  the  barge.  The  fact  that  Geo. 
Dodge  had  been  killed  was  not  known  to  me  for  more  than  a  year. 
Dan  McTaggart  escaped,  was  captured  and  escaped  again.  He  was 
murdered  in  cold  blood  in  southern  Kansas  a  few  years  ago.  We  were 
boated  to  Memphis.  We  had  a  reception.  The  roofs  and  streets  were 
covered  with  people  anxious  for  a  sight  of  the  hated  "Yanks."  They 
hurled  missies  at  us  and  rained  anathemas  upon  our  defenseless 
heads,  but  no  one  was  hurt.  First  they  quartered  us  in  a  cotton  shed, 
then  moved  us  to  Bird  Hill's  slave  markets.  When  we  marched  in 
there,  Capt.  Twiss,  Col.  John  A.  Logan's  wagon  master,  literally  ex 
ploded.  Twiss  said: 

"Don't  this  beat  hell!  The  last  time  I  was  here  it  was  to  bring 
in  a  lot  of  runaway  niggers,  when  I  was  U.  S.  marshal  under  President 

Buchanan!  Now  these  d d  southerners  are  trying  to  break  up 

the  Union!" 

Then  Capt.  Twiss  said  something  really  profane.  The  boys  or 
ganized  a  mock  U.  S.  senate  with  all  the  states  represented.  The 
writer  was  the  presiding  officer. 

The  rebels  were  not  in  love  with  these  senate  discussions,  and 
soon  stopped  the  proceedings  and  we  were  moved  to  the  Botanical 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  241 

Medical  College  out  on  Corinth  road.  Before  the  removal  three  of  us 
were  selected  by  lot  to  go  to  Columbus,  they  said  to  be  exchanged. 
Three  more  happy  mortals  never  lived.  Alex.  Sutton,  of  Logan's  regi 
ment,  was  one  of  them.  He  now  lives  in  Illinois.  Regret  cannot  re 
call  name  of  third  man.  At  Columbus  we  were  kept  under  close  guard 
three  days  and  the  Rebs  told  us  we  had  been  brougnt  up  to  be  shot 
in  retaliation  for  some  Yank's  meanness.  We  each  weighed  a  ton  on 
our  arrival  at  Columbus,  but  that  bit  of  news  reduced  us  to  normal 
weight.  We  did  not  believe  the  story  but  there  was  something  about 
the  statement  not  a  bit  consoling. 

You  may  regard  this  statement  as  confidential.  Had  we  known 
the  brutal  treatment  to  come  in  the  following  summer,  a  sentence  of 
death  then*  and  there  would  not  have  been  as  hard  to  bear.  We  were 
surprised  when  we  were  again  on  a  steamer  headed  for  Memphis. 
Why  we  were  taken  to  Columbus  is  yet  a  mystery.  At  New  Madrid 
several  Rebs  came  aboard.  Among  them  Dr.  McDowell,  of  St.  Louis, 
one  of  the  most  blatant  secessionists  of  that  period.  Col.  Branden 
burg,  of  Arkansas,  soon  opened  up  a  talk  with  me  and  was  taken 
aback  when  told  that  three  Democratic  Congressmen  from  Illinois 
were  leading  regiments  in  Grant's  brigade.  He  knew  Logan  and 
Foulke.  Said  he  was  a  Douglass  elector  in  Arkansas  the  year  before 
and  had  told  his  people  that  they  could  never  cut  the  Mississippi 
river  in  two,  and  that  secession  was  a  mistake.  The  talk  wound  up 
by  his  insisting  that  we  go  into  the  cabin  and  take  dinner  with  him. 
We  went.  A  handsomely  dressed  rebel  Major  from  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  sat  directly  opposite  me,  and  he  was  very  angry  at  seeing 
the  blue  uniforms  at  the  cabin  table  and  talked  abusively  of  "The 
d —  — d  Yankee  abolitionists  of  the  North  who  were  invading  the 
South."  He  looked  insultingly  at  me.  I  felt  that  anger  was  master 
ing  my  discretion,  and  finally  in  a  voice  of  wrath  said  to  him: 

"I  am  a  prisoner  of  war,  but  if  allowed  to  speak  here,  would 
like  to  reply  to  your  misstatements." 

There  was  a  commotion  in  that  cabin.  Every  knife  and  fork 
was  dropped.  Col.  Brandenburg,  who  sat  next  to  me,  brought  his  big 
fist  down  on  that  table  with  such  force  that  the  glass  and  china 
danced  a  jig.  Col.  B.  said: 

''These  gentlemen  are  my  guests,  and  an  insult  to  them  is  an 
insult  to  me.  Young  man,  you  can  talk  all  you  please." 

Then  the  rebel  Major  heard  some  "hot  stuff."  He  was  told  among 
other  things  that  the  writer  was  named  after  Andrew  Jackson  who, 
three  decades  before  had  notified  a  distinguished  South  Carolinian 
that  nullification  was  treason,  and  that  the  man  who  fired  upon  the 
American  flag  was  a  traitor  and  ought  to  be  hung. 

The  rebel   Major  was  white  with  rage   and   left  the  table,  and 


242  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

we  saw  no  more  of  him.  But  the  incident  drew  Col.  B.  closer  to  us, 
and  upon  our  arrival  at  Memphis  the  next  day,  when  the  armed  guards 
ordered  us  to  fall  into  line  and  march  up  to  the  prison.  Col.  B.  said, 
"No!  These  gentlemen  will  first  go  with  me  to  the  Gayosa  hotel  for 
dinner."  And  we  did.  It  was  a  square  meal  and  the  last  one  we  had 
for  nearly  a  year.  Col.  B.  wanted  to  buy  me  a  suit  of  clothes  and  to 
accept  some  money.  His  generous  offer  was  firmly  declined,  "as  we 
should  not  be  prisoners  long."  He  bade  us  a  sad  good-bye.  Col.  Bran- 
denberg  was  a  brave,true,generous  man.  Wish  we  could  meet  him  again. 

In  December  a  serious  attack  of  fever  found  me  lying  on  the 
floor  in  the  college.  Wisner,  Nye  and  Tannahill  were  greatly  worried. 
One  day  Tannahill  said  the  rebel  in  charge  had  told  him  we  could  all 
get  out  if  we  would  not  take  up  arms  again.  "What  do  you  think  of 
that,  Andy?"  "Tannahill,  you  have  children  and  must  decide  for 
yourself.  As  for  Andy,  ne  will  die  first."  Tannahill  took  my  nand, 
rubbed  my  aching  head,  and  said  "Andy,  I  will  stay  with  you  to  the 
end."  Brave  fellow!  He  was  a  living  skeleton  when  we  reached  Ann 
apolis  late  in  October,  1862,  and  died  the  following  day.  Tannahill 
was  a  hero.  His  widow  lives  in  Kansas  now.  The  elder  Morton,  of 
Co.  "B,"  died  in  Kansas. 

Soon  after  that  I  was  taken  to  the  Overton  Hospital  and  was 
kindly  and  skillfully  treated  by  Dr.  Curry,  of  Nashville,  I  remember 
him  with  gratitude.  Yellow  jaundice  and  rheumatism  attacked  me. 
For  several  months  could  not  raise  my  left  hand  to  my  lips.  The  doc 
tor  would  not  allow  me  to  talk,  but  told  me  the  North  would  be 
whipped;  that  the  slaves  would  raise  crops  and  the  Southern  whites 
do  the 'fighting.  The  writer  suggested  that  the  slaves  would  aid  the 
North  when  posted.  Dr.  Curry  said,  "My  body  servant  will  watch 
with  you  to-night.  If  he  knew  you  was  a  Northern  soldier  he  would 
run  from  the  hospital."  Along  in  the  night  I  was  awakened  and  saw 
at  the  foot  of  the  cot  a  fat  yellow  boy  neatly  dressed.  His  intent  look 
made  me  nervous.  He  said,  "Massa,  ain't  you  one  of  dem  Linkum 
soldiers?  Massa  Curry  told  me  you  was  one  of  dem  Arkansaw  fellers, 
but  the  more  Massa  Curry  tell  me  dat  the  more  dis  chile  no  belebe 
him." 

It  seems  the  doctor  had  brought  him  in  while  sleep  came  to 
my  rescue.  Finding  me  so  sleepy  the  slave  said:  "Well,  massa,  I  know 
you  is,  and  you  have  lots  of  friends  down  in  the  kitchen."  He  tried 
to  hide  oranges  under  my  pillow.  Here  was  a  revelation.  This  was 
in  December,  1861.  Even  then  the  slaves  in  the  towns  had  a  myster 
ious  knowledge  boding  no  good  to  their  masters.  But  the  treachery 
of  Dr.  Curry's  slave  disgusted  me.  Dr.  Curry  never  heard  of  it. 

One  day  three  women  walked  into  the  little  room  and  took  a 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  243 

long  look  at  me,  as  a  live  "Yank"  in  a  hospital  with  hundreds  of 
wounded  Johnnies  was  a  curiosity.  Noting  my  wakefulness,  one 
woman  gave  me  a  lecture  on  the  horrid  conduct  of  the  "Yankees." 
She  boasted  of  her  South  Carolina  birth  and  consigned  me  and  the 
entire  "Yankee"  race  to  the  "bottomless  pit."  Her  talk  served  as 
a  tonic;  it  amused  and  strengthened  me  and  I  managed  to  tell  her 
I  was  not  a  "Yankee."  but  a  native  of  New  York.  Like  a  spitfire 
she  replied:  "The  meanest  Yankees  I  know  are  New  Yorkers."  That 
squelched  me  entirely.  The  other  two  women  tried  to  talK  viciously 
but  did  not  succeed  very  well.  They  left  me  feeling  amused  and 
really  better  for  their  visit. 

A  very  singular  thing  happened  the  following  day  after  sur 
geons  call,  when  one  of  the  three  ladies  aforenamed  entered  and 
placed  on  the  chair  near  my  head  something  covered  with  a  white 
cloth.  She  said,  "We  talked  roughly  to  you  yesterday.  Hope  you 
are  no  worse.  I  have  brought  you  a  bowl  of  soup." 

I  looked  at  the  bowl  she  lifted  irom  the  chair,  then  looked  square 
ly  into  her  eyes,  but  did  not  speak.  She  said,  "I  know  you  think  this 
has  poison  in  it."  There  was  a  moisture  in  her  eyes;  a  sadness  in  her 
face  that  made  me  hate  myself  for  thinking  evil  of  her— for  she  had 
read  my  thoughts  correctly. 

She  continued,  "You  have  many  friends  in  Memphis.  Three 
of  my  brothers  are  in  the  Union  army  from  Ohio.  I  was  teaching 
here  when  hostilities  began  and  could  not  get  away.  So  I  have  to 
be  a  pretty  good  rebel  while  here."  Am  so  ashamed  that  her  name 
was  not  taken  at  that  time.  Weeks  after,when  my  strength  was  return- 
ing.she  brought  me  a  book  to  read, "The  Last  Days  of  Pompeii,"  and  it 
gave  me  solid  comfort.  God  bless  that  dear  woman  wherever  she  may 
be.  In  March  early,  all  prisoners  were  taken  to  Mobile,  via  Corinth 
by  rail,  thence  by  steamer  to  Tuscaloosa.  Dr.  Curry  said  the  trip 
might  kill  me,  but  it  didn't.  Was  so  ill  when  taken  to  the  steamer 
at  Mobile  that  I  remember  nothing  of  it. 

Dr.  David  Whitnell,  John  A.  Logan's  surgeon,  was  one  of  the 
prisoners  and  looked  after  me.  He  told  me  later  that  the  boat  cap 
tain  gave  him  a  bottle  of  Georgia  peach  brandy,  and  he  dosed  me  with 
it.  Probably  made  me  full  as  a  tick,  but  it  didn't  make  me  feel  like 
a  peach.  When  senses  returned  was  in  a  room  in  hospital  of  prison 
at  Tuscaloosa.  Dr.  Thomas  Fishburn  Lee  was  surgeon  in  charge  at 
Tuscaloosa,  and  he  treated  me  more  like  a  brother  than  a  foe.  That 
was  the  third  time  that  the  little  mystic  pin  on  my  now  ragged  blue 
coat  had,  without  my  knowledge,  brought  me  aid  in  the  sorest  need. 
The  rations  at  Tuscaloosa  were  horrid.  The  corn  bread  was  in  flat 
cakes  three  feet  square,  three  inches  thich,  and  so  hard  that  the  boys 
used  iron  pokers  to  break  it.  » 


244  HISTORY   OF   THE  SEVENTH   IOWA 

One  April  day  after  the  wounded  from  Shiloh  were  brought 
there,  that  infamous  wretch,  Wertz,  came  into  the  room  where  not 
a  man  was  able  to  walk.  He  had  a  revolver  in  each  hand  and  threat 
ened  to  shoot  the  entire  party  of  prisoners.  His  language  was  too  vile 
to  print.  He  was  hung  in  Washington  at  the  close  of  the  war  for  his 
inhuman  treatment.  He  is  the  only  person  at  whose  death  the  writer 
really  rejoiced. 

One  day,  crawling  to  an  open  window,  my  head  was  out  to 
catch  the  fresh  air.  The  click  of  a  gun  lock  caused  my  eyes  to  glance 
downward.  There  was  a  Johnny  aiming  at  me  with  his  old  musket. 
I  was  angry  enough  to  bite  a  file.  He  said,  "You  Yanks  must  keep 
your  heads  in  or  we-uns  will  shoot.  Them's  orders."  His  inimit 
able  drawl  as  he  lowered  his  gun,  would  have  drawn  a  smile  from 
a  tombstone.  The  next  morning  the  affair  was  reported  to  Dr.  Lee, 
who  said  the  order  was  infamous  but  that  it  was  posted  on  the  prison 
doors,  properly  signed  by  Gen.  Winder.  He  told  me  that  an  Iowa  boy 
had  been  shot  for  standing  in  an  open  doorway.  It  was  a  fiendish 
murder.  Gen.  Winder's  infamous,  brutal  order  was  a  disgrace  to 
American  civilization. 

Later,  last  of  May,  perhaps,  the  prisoners  were  moved  to  Mont 
gomery.  Several  men  died  of  small  pox  in  Tuscaloosa  hospital.  I 
was  too  ill  to  be  moved  with  my  comrades  to  Montgomery, but  was  sent 
Ihere  later.  Met  Col.  Knight,  of  Floyd,  there  and  he  gave  me  a 
breakfast  that  astonished  my  stomach.  In  due  season  the  prisoners 
were  moved  to  Camp  Oglethorpe,Macon,Ga.  That  camp  was  another 
name  for  Hell  with  a  big  capital  H.  It  was"a  plaoe  of  torment."  Major 
Rylander  had  charge.  He  was  not  a  soldier.  He  was  a  bushwhacking, 
cowardly  "home  guard."  He  was  not  "a  man."  Simply  a  "thing" 
in  boots  and  spurs.  He  had  no  heart  and  only  an  apology  for  a 
gizzard.  Rylander  was  a  small  edition  of  Wertz.  He  is  probably 
still  living.  The  Devil  wouldn't  accept  him.  No  bullet  could  find  him 
and  no  alligator,  would  eat  him.  When  thinking  of  Camp  Oglethorpe 
I  try  to  exercise  a  Christian  spirit,  but  its  memories  make  me  feel 
like  the  Devil! 

Hundreds  of  our  brave  fellows  were  literally  starved  to  death. 
Many  were  shot  on  the  dead  line.  The  water  was  filthy.  The  food 
would  upset  the  stomach  of  a  Hottentot.  The  sand,  the  blankets, 
the  clothing,  the  air,  literally  alive  with  vermin.  Several  thousand 
prisoners  were  there  that  year,  1862,  coming  and  going.  If  the  un 
known  graves  could  only  speak  what  a  horrid  story  they  would  tell. 
There  were  days  and  nights  of  horror  in  that  camp  no  pen  can  describe, 
no  tongue  can  tell.  Why  it  was  permitted,  God  only  knows.  How  any  of 
us  survived  its  horrors  is  an  unsolved  mystery. 

Amid  all  its  horr<?rs  I  never  heard  a  company  "B"  man  utter  a 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  245 

word  that  denoted  failing  courage.  Hope  inspired  each  of  them. 
July  Fourth,  1862,  will  never  be  forgotten  by  those  living  who  were 
in  Camp  Oglethorpe  that  day.  The  boys  grouped  together  and  sang 
The  Star  Spangled  Banner  and  America.  They  entered  into  the  spirit 
of  the  glorious  day.  They  were  in  bondage  but  the  spirit  of  freemen 
burned  within  them.  The  Rebel  guards  came  close  to  the  dead  line 
and  sang  The  Bonnie  Blue  Flag  and  Dixie.  The  writer  sat  by  Hank 
Wisner*  on  the  sand  and  thought  over  the  story  of  Bunker  Hill  and  of 
Marion  and  his  men. 

Our  •  rations  were  rice,  meal,  densely  populated  side  meat  and 
"coffee'  made  of  parched  grain  and  bugs,  principally  bugs.  Our  bed 
was  rough  boards  with  a  ragged  blanket.  Charlie  Webster  came  to 
my  bed  one  day  saying,  "We  shall  all  die  here.  We  are  being  starved 
to  death."  Wisner  and  Nye  tried  to  argue  him  out  of  that  idea.  That 
night  Webster  lay  down  upon  the  sand  and  died.  A  broken  heart! 
He  was  from  Fort  Madison.  August  was  a  terrible  month.  A  sand 
dune  in  front  of  our  quarters  was  "the  dead  pile."  Every  morning 
those  who  had  died  at  night  were  thrown  on  that  sand  heap.  Nye 
and  Wisner  lay  upon  my  right  and  left.  My  limbs  were  useless.  My 
blood  seemed  frozen  in  spite  of  the  heat.  No  men  were  ever  more 
loyal  to  a  brother  than  Nye  and  Wisner  to  me.  Will  some  one  send 
me  Wisner's  address?  One  day  Nye  said,  "Andy,  I  am  going  to  leave 
you.  I  know  it.  I  dreamed  last  night  that  the  ground  was  white. 
I  saw  a  cutter  drive  .up  to  the  old  home  in  York  state,  and  my  mother 
came  to  the  door,  received  a  letter  and  said,  'My  boy  is  dead.'  It 
means  me,  Andy,  I  cannot  shake  it  off."  His  mind  was  shaken. 

Nye  and  the  writer  were  lovers.  It  was  said  in  prison  that  we 
looked  alike.  His  words  were  so  solemn  that  it  nearly  killed  me, 
but  Wisner  and  I  tried  to  talk  him  out. of  it.  Within  two  days  Nye  was 
dead.  A  more  genuine  comrade  never  lived.  After  his  body  was 
carried  to  the  dead  pile,  one  of  the  boys  came  to  my  side,  looked  at  me 
intently,  and  said,  "Why,  Andy,  you  are  alive?  I  just  saw  you  on 
the  dead  pile."  How  is  it  that  human  beings  become  used  to  the 
ways  of  savages? 

Once  when  I  was  unable  to  open  my  eyes  or  move  a  muscle, 
Wisner  begged  the  rebel  surgeon  to  give  me  some  medicine.  The  sur 
geon  brutally  replied,  "That  fellow  is  as  good  as  dead;  no  use  wasting 
time  on  him."  That's  one  time  my  horrid  temper  saved  my  life. 
His  heartless  tone,  as  if  speaking  to  a  dog,  aroused  me  to  life  again. 
Speech  and  sight  were  denied  me,  but  inside  my  heart  of  hearts  was 
an  indignation  meeting  that  Wisner  and  the  surgeon  knew  not  of. 
Something  said  to  me,  "You  will  live— you  have  a  work  yet  to  do." 
The  next  day  Wisner  was  dumbfounded  when  told  that  I  heard  it  all. 
That  jar  was  a  tonic!  In  all  the  year  in  prison  the  cowardly  home 


24:6  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

guards  were  to  be  dreaded.  The  real  soldiers  in  grey  were  gentle 
men.  One  day  a  party  of  Georgians  from  Camp  Douglass  called  upon 
us.  One  said  to  me.  "It  is  a  shame  the  way  you  are  treated  here." 

We  were  taken  to  Richmond  in  September,  packed  in  box  cars 
like  sheep.  At  Columbia,  S.  C.,  we  were  lifted  from  the  cars  and 
laid  in  the  sun  to  dry.  A  driving  rain  wet  us  through.  It  was  my  first 
real  washing  for  months.  My  feet  were  bare,  my  trousers  worn  out 
nearly  to  the  knees,  and  my  coat  a  mass  of  rags.  While  lying  there 
racked  with  pain  and  in  abject  misery,  a  car  inspector  was  tapping 
the  wheels.  He  looked  at  me  and  said,  "Don't  give  up,  you  boys  have 
lots  of  friends  down  here."  The  south  was  honeycombed  with  Union 
sentiment.  If  a  hundred  hot  headed  politicians  had  been  called  to 
Heaven  in  1861  the  rebellion  would  have  been  in  hell  early  in  1862. 

Have  no  recollection  of  arrival  at  Libby  prison  hospital.  Re 
call  that  one  morning  a  dead  man  was  at  my  right,  another  at  my 
left.  Late  in  October  we  were  taken  to  a  flag  of  truce  boat  on  the 
James  river.  The  boys  said  that  when  the  stars  and  stripes  went  up 
it  would  get  such  a  cheer  as  was  never  heard  before.  The  flag  went 
up  when  in  sight  of  Fortress  Monroe.  I  saw  men  weep.  Heard  them 
sob.  Their  joy  was  too  great  for  cheers.  The  flag  never  seemed  so 
bright  to  my  poor  eyes.  It  covered  all  the  earth  and  sea.  It  brigh 
tened  all  the  sky.  From  that  hour  to  this  I  never  see  the  flag  float 
ing  above  me  that  my  heart  does  not  swell  and  my  eyes  moisten  in 
memory  of  that  scene  on  the  James  River. 

Was  insensible  soon  after  and  when  consciousness  returned 
was  in  a  strange  place.  It  seemed  like  Heaven.  By  degrees  I  noted 
that  my  rags  had  disappeared  and  a  robe  of  white  covered  me.  By 
slow  degrees  my  mind  reached  the  conclusion  that  a  great  change  had 
come  over  me.  The  attendant  told  me  it  was  ward  17,  naval  hospital, 
Annapolis,  Maryland.  I  asked  for  Co.  "B"  boys.  But  was  left  alone 
with  the  attendant.  I  begged  for  a  mirror.  Had  not  seen  my  face  for 
nearly  a  year.  Was  not  sure  it  was  Andy  Felt.  It  seemed  so  like  a 
dream.  My  requests  were  not  granted.  "Where  is  the  doctor?" 
"He  examined  you  and  will  be  here  again  soon."  It  was  days  before 
fully  conscious  of  my  condition.  The  iron  cot  was  pushed  to  the  window. 
The  flag  was  floating  over  a  steamer.  The  stars  and  stripes.  The 
tears  came.  .Could  not  keep  them  back.  My  heart  said,  "God  bless 
Old  Glory!"  The  scene  was  a  transformation  from  torment  to  rest. 
Finally  the  "B"  boys  called.  They  said  Gov.  Kirkwood  was  in  Wash 
ington.  "Can  you  write  to  him?"  Propped  up  on  the  cot,  my  hand 
wrote  him  that  Co.  "B"  boys  just  from  Richmond,  wanted  to  join 
the  dear  old  Seventh  again.  The  Governor  replied:  "Am  called 
to  Iowa  at  once,  but  the  Secretary  of  War  will  grant  request."  On 
Christmas  we  were  all  taken  into  a  big  dining  room  and  filled  with 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  247 

roast  turkey  and  oyster  stuffing.  I  never  did  have  much  sense.  Tur 
key  has  never  tasted  good  to  me  since  Christmas,  1862.  My  attend 
ant  was  a  20th  New  Yorker,  wounded  at  Antietam.  The  doctor  was 
constantly  importuned  to  let  me  go  outside.  I  could  walk  a  little, 
proud  of  my  new  uniform.  One  day  he  gave  me  a  pass  good  for  an 
hour  outside  the  grounds.  Looked  in  a  mirror.  Almost  fainted.  It 
was  not  the  writer1.  It  was  a  skeleton  with  sunken  eyes  and  grey 
beard.  Was  I  bewitched?  Went  to  the  scales.  Tipped  the  beam  at 
eight-five  pounds.  Scales  not  right.  Should  weigh  one  hundred  and 
thirty.  Tried  other  scales.  Same  result.  Told  doctor  wanted  some 
thing  to  make  me  fat.  He  said,  "If  you  live  to  get  home  eat  foods  to 
make  blood.  You  have  been  starved  to  death!"  I  promised  to  do 
it.  Have  been  eating  ever  since.  Am  now  as  fat  as  a  match. 

Early  in  January  came  an  order  for  me  to  take  the  boys  to  St. 
Louis.  We  reported  to  Gen.  Woods  at  Benton  Barracks.  After  a 
rest  we  started  for  Corinth  and  saw  Co.  "B"  once  more. 

We  all  went  out  (mostly  in  ambulances)  to  Hamburg,  and 
thence  up  the  river.  Gen.  Rice  was  in  command.  Never  knew  what 
we  went  after.  Gen.  Rice  and  Gapt.  Reniger  came  to  the  tent  and 
handed  me  my  appointment  as  a  sergeant.  Gen.  Rice  saia,  "Mr.  Pelt." 
Couldn't  understand  it.  He  then  handed  me  my  discharge  dated  back 
in  December.  "By  special  order  of  Sec.  of  War,  on  report  of  Surgeon 
General."  If  General  Rice  had  struck  me  he  could  not  have  surprised 
me  more.  Rice  said,  "You  go  home,  recruit  a  few  men,  and  you  will 
get  a  Lieutenant's  Commission."  I  went,  but  disease  soon  laid  me 
up  and  I  have  been  a  physicial  wreck  ever  since.  I  loved  every  man 
in  the  original  Co.  "B."  No.  better  106  men  went  out  in  1861.  It  has 
been  my  chief  regret  that  their  "march  to  the  sea"  was  without  me. 
God  bless  all  the  surviving  comrades.  Trott  is  at  Junction  City, 
Kansas,  loved  by  all  who  know  him.  Za  Rutherford  publishes  a  paper 
at  bavannah,  Mo.,  and  doing  well.  Now,  my  dear  Captain,  here  is 
love  to  you.  And  with  "tears  for  the  dead,  and  cheers  for  the  living" 
here  is  to  the  remnant  of  oM  Co.  "B. 

ANDY  FELT. 
Seneca,  Kansas,  March,  1903. 

To  Capt.  H.  I.  Smith,  Historian  Seventh  Iowa  Infantry. 


248  HISTORY   OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 


APPENDICES. 


It  is  refreshing  to  turn  from  the  gruesome  records  of  war,  to 
the  beneficent  results  of  peace.  The  North  and  South  fought  in  cour 
ageous  rivalry.  There  was  honest  differences  between  the  two  in  ref 
erence  to  state  sovereignty  and  slavery;  this  being  fanned  by  ambi 
tious  partisans,  there  had  grown  up  a  spirit  of  antagonism,  which, 
seemingly,  could  not  be  settled  or  reconciled  without  test  of  arms 
and  strength.  The  Civil  war  was  the  result;  it  was  an  inevitable  and 
irrepressible  conflict  to  settle  the  grave  questions  involved.  Victors 
and  vanquished  bravely  played  their  part;  to  say  otherwise  we  be 
little  each  other.  I  have  charity  enough  to  believe  that  most  of  them 
were  honest  in  their  convictions,  that  they  were  fighting  for  a  prin 
ciple;  that  they  thought  their  homes  and  territory  were  being 
assailed  and  that  their  institutions  and  land  were  being  in 
vaded  without  just  cause.  The  Civil  war  settled  these  questions. 
Might  was  in  the  right  and  right  prevailed.  It  is  settled  in  such  a 
way  that  both  sides  share  equally  in  the  results  of  the  victory.  It 
should  not  be  reopened.  It  should  be  settled  so  permanently  that  no 
blasts  of  the  future  can  shake  it;  sectionalism  and  bitterness  should 
find  no  place  in  this  Great  Nation.  Obedience  and  submission  to 
law  should  be  our  first  duty. 

As  victors  we  can  afford  to  be  magnanimous,  we  should  scorn 
to  glory  in  our  triumph;  our  former  foes  should  fear  no  humiliation 
from  us  in  their  defeat.  Let  us  as  Americans  worthy  of  the  name, 
see  that  nothing  be  done  to  revive  the  animosities  of  the  past.  Let 
us  be  charitable;  it  is  our  duty  as  patriotic  citizens  to  encourage  a 
spirit  of  friendship  and  brotherly  love,  generosity  and  loyalty.  I 
think  such  sentiments  should  prevail  and  be  taught.  I  am  not  in 
favor  of  apologizing  or  doing  anything  humiliating.  It  is  not  suffi 
cient  that  a  man  fought  to  save  his  country,  but  the  true  patriot 
should  strive  to  perpetuate  it,  and  it  should  be  the  constant  duty  of 
every  good  citizen  to  work  for  the  perpetuation  of  this  glorious  re 
public;  and  none  can  do  it  better  than  the  Union  and  Confederate 
soldier.  I  believe  it  is  the  duty  for  the  Union  soldier  to  take  the 
initiatory.  Whenever  the  Southern  soldier  or  citizen  is  willing  to 
accept  the  results  of  war  and  bear  their  allegiance  to  the  flag,  I  am 
willing  to  bury  all  differences  and  forget  that  we  were  enemies.  A 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  249 

mother  chastizes  an  erring  child  when  he  goes  astray  or  does  wrong, 
but  should  she  love  him  any  less  or  thrust  him  away  when  he  asks 
to  be  forgiven  and  wishes  to  return?  There  is  a  nobleness  of  character 
in  a  man  who  will  soundly  thrash  an  antagonist,  and  when  he  cries 
enough  will  raise  him  up  and  call  it  square.  The  Confederates  had 
not  much  left  after  the  war,  than  the  recollections  of  their  valor,  suf 
ferings  and  sacrifices, and  I  am  not  one  to  begrudge  them  that;  I  cherish 
no  revenge. 

Schiller  said,  "A  merely  fallen  foe  may  rise  again,  but  the  re 
conciled  one  is  truly  vanquished."  Emerson  said,  "There  can  be  no 
deep  peace  between  two  spirits,  never  mutual  respect,  until,  in  the 
decalogue  each  stands  for  the  whole  Nation."  Grant  said,  "Let  us  have 
peace."  And  Milton,  "Peace  hath  her  victories  no  less  renowned 
than  war." 

Shriveled  sectionalism  and  party  prejudice  should  find  no  place 
or  lodgement  in  our  country. 

The  example  of  reconciliation  is  set  by  the  veterans  more  than 
all  others,  they  have  most  to  forgive  and  forget.  "When  brave  men 
sheathe  their  swords  the  quarrel  is  done." 

Senator  Dolliver  said,  referring  to  General  Joseph  Wheeler, 
when  he  was  about  to  go  to  Cuba,  I  warned  him  he  was  too  old  and 
that  he  would  never  return.  "My  boy,"  he  said,  as  if  to  atone  for  the 
part  he  had  taken  in  the  rebellion,  "I  prayed  for  ten  years  for  an  op 
portunity  to  die  in  the  uniform  of  the  United  States."  I  like  to  quote 
such  utterances  from  our  former  foes.  Let  the  spirit  of  sectional  hate 
perish  under  the  memories  of  heroes  and  their  deeds. 

The  Spanish  war  has  done  much  to  wipe  out  the  differences  that 
have  existed  between  the  North  and  South;  the  unanimity  with  which 
they  have  joined,  to  be  a  unity  for  the  Nation,  and  the  spirit  that  pre 
vailed  between  the  young  men  of  both  sections  to  fraternize  and  join 
together  in  the  defense  of  the  flag,  has  been  most  cheering  and  com 
mendable.  Henry  Watterson  uttered  a  grand  triith  in  speaking  of 
the  Spanish  war  when  he  said: 

"In  these  warlike  spectacles,  everywhere  manifest,  ic  has  al 
ready  united  us  as  nothing  else  could  have  united  us — emancipating 
both  sections  of  the  Union  from  the  mistaken  impression  that  we  ever 
were,  or  ever  could  be,  anything  else  than  one  people.  In  the  brilliant 
achievement  of  that  typical  Green  Mountain  boy  on  the  other  side  of 
the  globe  it  has  already  exploited  us  as  a  naval  power,  and,  as  you 
yourselves  shall  show,  it  will  presently  demonstrate  us  no  less  a  mili 
tary  power,  before  whose  legions  the  enemies  of  liberty  and  humanity 
will  do  well  to  look  before  they  leap.  Surely  these  were  consumma 
tions  devoutly  to  be  wished.  They  are  worth  all  the  war  has  cost 
us,  or  will  cost  us.  I  know  what  war  means. 

"Obedience,    submission,   is   the   first  and   perhaps   the   hardest 


250  HISTORY   OF   THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

of  the  soldiers  first  duties.  If  officers  seem  capricious  or  tyrannical, 
do  your  duty.  It  will  come  round  all  right.  If  the  powers  that  be 
seem  partisan  or  unfair,  do  your  duty.  The  end  will  justify  you.  Be 
sure  that,  in  the  long  run,  the  man  who  does  his  duty  passes  beyond 
the  reach  of  wrong;  for,  as  there  is  a  God  who  saith  'Vengeance  is 
mine;  I  will  repay,'  so  is  there  a  people  whose  voice  is  the  voice  of 
God,  who  will  visit  upon  those  that  would  convert  the  places  of  trust 
which  they  chance  to  nold  into  places  of  private  or  political  advantage, 
a  punishment  as  complete  as  it  is  certain,  as  blighting  as  it  is  over 
whelming. 

"In  the  nature  of  the  case  but  few  of  you  can  hope  to  attain  to 
great  commands  or  to  acquire  exceptional  distinction.  In  the  end  most 
of  you  must  lay  aside  your  uniforms  and  resume  the  habiliments  of 
civil  life.  But  there  is  no  one  of  you  who  cannot  do  his  duty  and 
doing  it,  can  be  happy  and  contented.  A  neighbor  of  mine  came  to 
me  the  other  day  to  ask  me  to  exert  my  supposed  influence  in  getting 
his  son  a  commission.  I  assured  him  that  I  had  no  influence. 

"But,'  said  i:  'I  have  two  sons  carrying  muskets  in  the  ranks 
— sons  whom  I  dearly  love — but  for  whose  advancement  I  shall  not  put 
fortii  the  slightest  effort.  It  is  enough  for  me  to  know  that  they  are 
serving  their  country,  and  if  it  please  God  to  bring  them  back  to  their 
mother  and  me  safe  and  sound,!  shall  bless  His  name  as  long  as  I  live.' 

"In  that  prayer  let  me  include  each  and  every  one  of  you; 
though  I  would  rather  see  my  boys,  and  each  and  every  one  of  you, 
lying  by  the  side  of  that  brave  and  loyal  sailor  lad  whom  North 
Carolina  has  just  given  up  as  heaven's  first  sacrifice  upon  the  altars 
of  the  nation  and  mankind,  than  that  one  feather  should  be  plucked 
from  the  eagle's  wing,  or  a  syllable  of  reproach  justly  cast  upon  the 
name  and  fame  of  our  dear  Kentucky." 

"Let  us  have  peace." 


THE  SEVENTH  IOWA  COLORS  HONORED. 

The  first  colors  of  the  regiment,  having  been  carried  in  General 
Grant's  first  battle  of  the  Civil  war,  have  the  distinguished  honor  .of 
being  deposited  Deside  the  remains  of  General  Grant  in  the  mausoleum 
at  Riverside  Drive,  New  York,  having  been  sent  by  Major  Mahon,  in 
accordance  with  the  instructions  in  the  following  correspondence: 

Ottumwa,  Iowa,  Feb.  17,  1903. 
Gen.  Grenville  Dodge,  New  York  City, 

Dear  General:  Some  time  last  fall  when  in  the  city,  I  visited 
the  Grant  monument.  I  found  the  niche  on  Gen.  Grant's  side  of  the 


FIRST   FLAG  'OF   THE   REGIMENT. 

Carried  during  Grant's  first  battle,  Behnont,  Mo.,  Nov.  7.  1861. 
Now  deposited  in  Gen.  Grant's  Tomb,  Riverside  Drive,  New  York. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  251 

tomb,  devo.ted  to  the  flags  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  quite  well 
filled.  In  the  other  niche  on  the  side  of  Mrs.  Grant's  resting  place, 
there  were  no  flags,  and  the  custodian  informed  me  they  were  unable 
to  procure  them  from  the  different  states,  as  they  held  them  at  their 
own  capitals. 

I  have  in  my  possession  the  flag  carried  by  the  7th  at  Belmont, 
Fort  Henry,  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  the  advance  on  Corinth,  and  the 
engagements  at  Corinth  Oct.  3rd  and  4th,  and  luka  a  few  weeks  earlier. 
Meantime  the  colors  had  faded  out  of  the  flag  to  such  an  extent  that 
it  was  unrecognizable,  and  we  drew  a  new  stand  of  colors.  Gen. 
Elliott  W.  Rice  secured  the  old  flag  and  carried  it  in  his  trunk  up  to 
the  time  of  his  promotion  to  be  Brigadier-General  in  August  '64.  At 
that  time,  I  being  in  command  of  the  regiment,  he  gave  the  flag  to 
me;  it  followed  my  fortunes  with  my  limited  belongings  to  the  close 
of  the  war. 

I  still  have  it  and  prize  it  highly,  but  recognizing  that  it  has 
a  significance  outside  of  personal  sentiment,  I  desire  to  know  if  you 
would  care  to  have  it  to  place  in  the  Grant  mausoleum.  If  you  should 
consider  the  offer,  I  would  like  to  have  the  engagements  of  the  regi 
ment  inscribed  on  the  flag,  or  rather  on  a  strip  fastened  to  it,  as  the 
present  material  is  too  frail,  I  fear,  to  take  any  printing.  I  would 
also  ask  the  great  privilege  of  having  my  name  attached  as  the  donor. 

With  kind  regards,  I  remain, 

Sincerely  yours, 

SAM'L  MAHON. 


GRANT   MONUMENT   ASSOCIATION. 

Office  of  Vice  President. 

No.  1  Broadway. 

New  York,  Feb.  20,  1903. 
Major  Samuel  Mahon,  Ottumwa,  Iowa. 

My  Dear  Comrade:  I  am  in  receipt  of  yours  of  February  17th. 
We  would  be  very  glad  to  have  you  send  us  the  flag,  and  have  inscribed 
on  a  card  in  typewriting  or  large  letters, first — oy  whom  it  was  donated, 
second — its  history,  and  attach  this  to  the  flag.  By  its  history,  I 
mean  the  name  of  the  regiment  and  the  battles  it  was  engaged  in, 
If  there  is  a  staff  to  it  will  have  to  be  boxed  and  sent  to  Colonel  Mid- 
dleton,  Custodian  of  the  Grant  Tomb,  Riverside  Drive,  New  York  City. 

Thanking  you  for  your  thoughtfulness  in  the  matter  and  assur 
ing  you  that  the  Grant  Monument  Association  appreciate  your  offer, 
I  am,  Very  truly  yours, 

G.  M.  DODGE,  Vice  President. 


252  HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

The  drum  corps  of  the  regiment  was  organized  by  W.  E.  Thayer, 
a  drummer  of  company  "B,"  who  was  appointed  Drum  Major  August 
27th,  1861.  The  corps  was  made  up  from  details  from  the  regiment, 
and  the  original  members  were  as  follows: 

Drummers:  Fifersf 

George  Craig,  Wm.  Johnson, 

George  Kesler,  E.  M.  Thayer, 

James  Dunham,  Charles  Goodno, 

John  Conaha,  Isaac  Friedney, 

David  Bales.  John  Akers. 

Major  Thayer,  who  is  now  living  (1903)  at  Ruthven,  Iowa,  con 
tributes  the  following  sketch: 

The  boys  were  rather  raw  at  first,  but  by  drilling  soon  became 
a  good  band,  always  ready  for  duty  and  obey  orders. 

At  the  first  battle,  Belmont,  Mo.,  I  ordered  one  each  to  take 
places  in  rear  of  each  company  and  to  assist  wounded  to  the  rear, 
and  assist  the  surgeons.  (There  was  no  Red  Cross  Society  in  the 
Civil  war).  They  stood  the  test  of  the  battle  very  well.  In  the  course 
of  the  fight  our  regiment  was  ordered  to  fall  back  a  few  paces;  there 
were  two  boys  that  fell  so  far  back  that  I  did  not  see  them  again  until 
we  got  back  to  the  fleet.  I  do  not  think  it  best  to  say  who  they  were. 
The  Rebels  got  possession  of  our  instruments  which  we  had  stacked 
during  the  battle.  The  regiment  soon  afterwards  made  a  charge, 
recovering  our  ground  and  our  instruments,  except  one  fife  and  one 
drum  head  busted.  After  the  battle  the  boys  and  myself  assisted 
in  caring  for  the  wounded  on  the  return  to  Cairo. 

In  the  hurried  return  to  the  boats,  as  there  was  not  room  for  all 
the  wounded  in  the  wagons  used  to  convey  the  wounded  from  the 
field  to  the  boats,  I  assisted  Henry  Benson,  of  Co.  "B,"  who  was  severe 
ly  wounded  in  the  ankle,  by  holding  on  to  the  end  board  of  the  wagon 
and  letting  him  lay  across  my  arms,  carrying  him  in  that  way  about 
two  miles  to  the  fleet.  It  was  a  four  mule  team  and  was  hurriedly 
driven  through  the  woods,  over  stumps  and  sticks,  without  roads, 
making  me  exceedingly  lame  and  sore  before  I  got  him  to  the  boats. 
What  made  it  more  difficult  for  me  was  that  Captain  Parrott,  on  the 
return,  became  so  weak  from  his  wounds  that  he  had  to  hang  to  my 
coat  tail  to  keep  up. 


Dear  Comrade:  As  I  wrote  you,  I  was  wounded  in  the  fierce 
encounter  we  had  with  the  rebel  force  sent  over  from  Columbus  to 
intercept  us  when  returning  to  the  boats  after  the  encampment  was 
destroyed  and  our  purpose  for  invading  Belmont,  achieved. 

While  lying  where  I  fell  a  rebel  soldier  attempted  to  bayonet 


W.  E.  THAYER, 

Drum  Major  7th  Iowa  Infantry. 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  253 

me  and  only  the  interference  of  his  commanding  officer  saved  my  life. 
I  was  conveyed  to  the  river  bank  and  there  laid  with  my  cap  over 
my  eyes.  How  long  I  had  laid  there  I  don't  know,  but  suddenly  my 
cap — which  was  the  only  article  of  a  soldier's  equipment  I  had  been 
able  to  secure — was  lifted  by  a  rebel  Lieut,  who  exclaimed:  "Why, 
Caleb,  where  did  you  come  from?"  He  was  an  old  friend  I  knew  in 
St.  Louis,  and  was  leading  his  company  in  pursuit  of  the  Yanks. 
Seeing  I  had  not  the  strength  to  talk — my  wounds  were  still  bleeding 
— he  hurriedly  left  me  but  not  before  promising  to  see  me  in  Columbus, 
where  he  said  I  would  be  taken. 

The  next  thing  I  was  conscious  of  was  being  dumped  into  a 
wagon  and  seated  between  the  outstretched  legs  of  a  comrade  behind 
me — the  method  adopted  in  packing  all  of  us.  This  done  we  were 
tnmdled  to  the  hospital  over  a  plank  road  of  which  every  other  plank 
was  off  on  furlough  or  "mustered  out."  To  my  poor  comrades  the 
jolting  of  that  springless  wagon  was  torture  most  exquisite. 

On  reaching  our  destination  it  was  discovered  that  we  had  col 
lapsed  and  run  over  like  a  tallow  dip.  But  we  quickly  revived;  for 
when  taken  out  of  the  wagon  we  again  were  telescoped  regardless  of 
fractured  bones. 

If  "Freedom"  did  not  "shriek"  as  "when  Kosciusko  fell,"  is  must 
have  been  because  she  could  not  shriek  and  swear  at  the  same  time. 

When  taken  into  the  hospital  I  was  set  up  on  a  stair  of  a  flight 
and  thoughtfully  bid  to  hang  on  to  the  banister,  but  the  banister, 
being  more  merciful  than  my  masters,  reversed  the  order  and  hung 
on  to  me — when  I  fell  over  against  it,  thus  preventing  my  rolling  to 
the  bottom  as  a  doctor  assured  me,  some  time  after,  I  would  have 
done  had  he  not  reached  me  when  I  was  slipping  from  my  perch. 
When  I  returned  to  consciousness  I  was  lying  on  a  pallet  surrounded 
by  a  mixed,  kindly  disposed  and  staring  multitude,  evidently  at 
tracted  by  my  civic  attire.  But  let  me  hasten  to  say  that  on  entering 
this  hospital  I  did  not  "leave  hope  behind"  but  to  the.  contrary,  felt 
its  inspiring  presence  for  the  first  time.  I  had  fallen  among  gen 
tlemen  whom  to  describe  as  humane,  would  but  inadequately  convey 
even  a  faint  idea  of  their  kindness,  tenderness  and  affectionate 
warmth.  The  surgeons,  their  untutored  male  nurses,  and  even  those 
who  idly  wandered  into  the  building,  were  conspicuously  kind  and 
sympathetic  and  desirious  to  be  useful  to  me.  I  know  not  to  what 
to  ascribe  such  friendliness  nor  at  this  late  day  can  I  account  for  it. 

'Tis  true,  that  at  this  early  stage  of  the  war  nothing  had  trans 
pired  to  embitter  them  and  arouse  a  personal  hostility.  Defeats, 
blasted  hopes  and  disappointed  ambition  later  wrought  a  great  change 
in  their  feelings  and  treatment  of  prisoners. 

It  was  one  surgeon  in   particular  whose  devotion  was  conspic- 


254  HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

uous  for  its  warmth  and  steadfastness.  It  really  bordered  on  the  ro 
mantic.  He  never  left  my  bedside  but  for  professional  reasons  and 
before  going  would  place  me  in  charge  of  Patrick,  his  faithful  ser 
vitor,  who,  though  as  rough  in  appearance"  as  a  clod  of  his  native 
peat,  was  tender,  loyal  and  true. 

The  doctors  liked  to  converse,  and  I  think  the  danger  I  was  in 
at  Mound  City  and  even  when  at  Columbus,  was  due  in  no  slight 
degree  to  the  excitement  and  exertion  of  talking,  though  I  spoke 
only  when  obliged  to  and  in  a  tone  scarcely  audible.  And  the  doctors 
discussed  such  exciting  topics — generally  war  questions!  They  were 
invariably  polite  and  respectful  both  in  manner  and  expression,  and 
while  no  honey  dropped  from  my  lips,  they  spoke  not  in  bitterness  and 
yet,  when  I  "saw  a  head,  I  hit  it." 

One  day  my  surgeon  conducted  some  ladies  into  the  hospital 
and  introduced  me  to  them  as  his  "pet  rebel."  They  were  pleasant 
and  kindly  and  one  of  them  was  very  curious  to  know  why  I  was  in 
citizens  attire?  Up  to  this  date  I  had  evaded  the  question,  intending 
when  I  could  better  'bear  the  strain,  to  use  the  incident  to  "point  a 
moral"  in  the  interests  of  our  cause  and  in  imitation  of  Columbus 
who  made  capital  on  one  of  his  voyages  by  frightening  some  hostile 
savages  into  submission  by  an  ingenious  application  of  an  eclipse 
of  the  moon.  Convinced  that  the  time  had  come  to  preach  my  little 
sermon,  I  responded  to  my  fair  inquirer  in  this  wise:  Though  the 
incident  you  would  have  me  explain  is  in  itself  of  slight  importance, 
it  is  nevertheless  not  devoid  of  a  certain  significance,  for  when  a  man 
shows  such  extraordinary  eagerness  to  serve  his  country  as  to  go 
from  his  fireside  to  the  battlefield  without  stopping  even  to  exchange 
his  citizen's  dress  for  a  soldier's  uniform,  he  necessarily  appreciates 
and  in  an  overwhelming  degree,  tae  fact  that  there  is  a  stupendous 
wrong  to  be  redressed  and  no  less  heinous  than  that  of  rebellion,and  the 
earnestness  and  determination  of  an  humble  son  of  the  republic  is 
but  a  faint  suggestion  of  the  tremendous  awakening  in  the  army, 
now  engaged  in  a  struggle  for  the  preservation,  protection  and  per 
petuity  of  the  Union.  And,  Madam,  I  would  that  you  could  see  in 
this  awakening  a  handwriting  on  the  wall  of  your  Confederacy,  and 
a  handwriting  that  no  Daniel  need  be  called  to^  interpret,  as  "  he 
who  runs  may  read."  To  this  my  fair  auditor  simply  said,  and  more 
in  grief  than  in  anger,  "You  are  cruel."  I  replied  then  in  the  words 
Hamlet  addressed  to  his  mother:  "I  must  be  cruel  only  to  be  kind." 

On  another  occasion  I  was  asked  by  one  of  the  doctors  if  we 
were  not  waging  war  for  the  purpose  of  giving  freedom  to  the  slaves? 
I  assured  him  that  such  a  thing  had  not  entered  into  the  plans  of  the 
government  and  that  the  institution  never  would  be  disturbed  unless 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  255 

as  a  war  measure,  unless  it  became  an  obstruction  in  our  path  to 
Richmond,  in  which  case  we  should  not  climb  over  it  or  make  a  de 
tour  to  avoid  it,  but  would  summarily  remove  it,  thereby  making  it 
necessary  for  the  Confederate  government  to  draw  against  their  fight 
ing  force  for  men  to  raise  crops  wrherewitli  to  support  the  people  and 
the  depleted  army.  And  by  way  of  illustration  I  cited  the  classic 
story  of  Venus,  who  not  being  able  to  destroy  Jupiter,  whose  thunders 
annoyed  her,  slew  those  who  forged  his  bolts. 

The  devil  was  not  more  successful  in  disturbing  the  harmonies 
of  Eden  than  in  marring  the  serenity  and  sacredness  of  our  sick  room 
— the  chamber  of  suffering  and  death!  But  to  patricularize.  One  morn^ 
ing  there  suddenly  appeared  in  the  doorway  a  genteel  looking  woman 
who,  after  a  minute's  survey  of  the  spacious  area  alloted  to  the  wound 
ed  of  both  armies,  stepped  in  and  from  the  basket  on  her  arm  pro 
ceeded  to  distribute  dainties,  and  with  rigid  discrimination  in  favor 
of  the  Confederates.  In  no  instance  was  a  Union  soldier  made  the 
recipient  of  her  bounty,  notwithstanding  the  Blue  and  the  Gray  were 
lying  side  by  side.  Though  it  was  a  revolting  spectacle,  I  made  no 
comment,  but  when  she  stood  at  the  side  of  a  dying  man — a  Lieut, 
who  died  at  night-fall — and  made  him  the  victim  of  her  venomous 
tongue  and  heart,  telling  him  that  she  had  no  sympathy  for  him,  was 
glad  he  so  soon  was  reaping  his  reward  and  hoped  he  would  not  live 
to  do  any  more  injury  to  her  kindred  and  friends,  I  say,  not  till  then 
did  I  appeal  to  the  doctor  to  protect  the  helpless  men  in  his  charge, 
and  notwithstanding  he  was  shocked  at  the  exhibtion  he  had  wit 
nessed,  he  replied:  "She  is  a  woman  and  I  can  do  nothing."  "No, 
doctor,"  I  said,  "she  is  not  a  woman  in  the  sense  that  she  is  entitled 
to  mercy.  She  has  unsexed  herself  and  so  far,  too,  as  to  baffle  all  at 
tempts  to  classify  her  and  to  determine  to  what  order  of  demon  she 
belongs." 

At  last  arrangements  for  an  exchange  or  prisoners  were  completed 
and  I  was  removed,  but  riot  as  I  was  brought  to  the  hospital.  My  sur 
geon  friend  had  me  lifted  on  my  mattress  onto  a  cot  which  by  his 
order  was  borne  by  four  soldiers  to  the  Confederate  steamer  and  put 
down  where  there  would  be  the  least  motion.  Then  he  directed  that  a 
blanket  and  pillow  be  brought  from  a  certain  stateroom  which  he 
designated — I  still  have  the  blanket — and  these  he  adjusted  with 
judicious  care.  Of  course  I  supposed  that  when  the  time  for  starting 
for  the  point  on  the  river  where  our  boat  was  in  waiting  that  he 
would  take  his  leave  of  me,  but  instead  of  doing  so  he  seated  himself 
at  the  head  of  my  cot  and  there  remained.  Near  by  and  lying  on  a 
pallet  of  straw,  was  a  wee  drummer  boy  severely  wounded  and  evi 
dently  had  not  long  to  live.  At  brief  intervals  he  would  cry:  "O, 


256  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

Mamma!  Do  come!  Do  come  and  see  your  poor  boy!"  Then  after 
a  few  minutes  of  silence,  during  which  the  thought  must  have  oc 
curred  to  him  that  were  his  mother  present  her  heart  would  break  to 
see  him  die,  he  suddenly  exclaimed  most  piteously,  "No  mamma,  don't 
come!  don't  come!  it  would  kill  you  to  see  your  poor  boy."  Where 
can  a  parallel  to  such  heroism  in  a  child  be  found?  Where  an  instance 
of  so  sublime  an  example  of  filial  devotion  and  self  sacrifice  and  in  a 
child  of  not  more  than  fourteen  years  of  age?  Rather  than  his  mother's 
heart  should  break  at  the  sight  of  his  wee  torn  body  going  down  to 
death,  he  would  die  alone,  would  forego  the  manifold  and  endearing  min 
istries  a  child  in  trouble  yearns  for  at  the  hands  of  his  mother.  And  what, 
would  his  mother  not  have  sacrificed  to  be  kneeling  at  his  lowly  bed 
side  that  she  might  soften  the  shadows  of  death  and  signal  the  spirit 
as  it  broke  away?  Gen.  Sherman  spoke  truly  if  inelegantly  when  he 
said,  "War  is  hell." 

On  the  meeting  of  the  boats,  my  surgeon  friend  with  unabated 
loyalty  and  regard  for  my  comfort,  directed  my  transfer  to  the  Union 
steamer,  not  neglecting  to  see  that  my  cot  was  located  with  reference 
to  my  ease;  then  spying  Miss  Safford— more  of  her  anon— he  asked  her 
to  prepare  a  cup  of  tea  for  me  which  commisson  she  executed  with  such 
promptness  as  to  suggest  that  her  angel  wings  had  slipped  down  to  her 
feet,  where  with  characteristic  modesty  and  humility  she  preferred  to 
wear  them.  While  the  Confederate  officers  who  had  been  engaged  in 
the  exchange  of  prisoners  were  dining  below  as  the  guests  of  the  Union, 
my  friend  who  declined  an  invitation  to  dinner  sat  by  me  and  related 
the  following  story:  "When  the  war  broke  out  I  was  the  editor  of  a 
paper  in  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and  being  a  physician  I  at  once  joined  the 
Confederate  service  and  proceeded  to  Columbus,  Ky.  I  am  a  widower 
with  one  child,  a  girl,  who  now  is  with  Mrs.  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in 
Washington,  who,  having  been  an  intimate  friend  of  my  wife,  offered 
to  take  charge  of  her.  Now  I  am  going  to  ask  you  to  call  on  Mrs.  Doug 
las  should  you  ever  be  in  Washington,  and  tell  her  how  thankful  I  am 
that  my  child  is  in  her  hands,  and  that  my  heart  is  filled  with  gratitude 
to  her.  He  then  wrote  his  name  and  address  on  the  margin  of  a  news 
paper  and  tucked  the  slip  under  my  pillow.  Tis  not  strange  that  it  was 
lost. 

I  may  as  well  say  here  that  on  my  own  return  to  New  York  I  wrote 
to  Mrs.  Stephen  A.  Douglas  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case  and  in  due 
time  received  a  very  courteous  reply  to  the  effect  that  some  other  Mrs. 
Douglas  must  have  been  referred  to  as  the  facts  I  had  stated  were  un 
known  to  her. 

Miss  Safford,  the  soldier's  devoted  friend,  was  the  maiden  sister 
of  the  brothers  Safford,  bankers  in  Cario,  as  late  as  1864  for  I  called 
on  her  in  that  year  to  learn  something  of  their  noble  sister  and  if  possi- 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  257 

ble,  to  pay  my  respects  to  her.  To  my  grief  I  was  told  that  she  was  in 
Paris  undergoing  treatment  for  a  disease  that  was  produced  by  exposure 
and  excessive  labor  in  military  camps  and  hospitals.  In  65  I  learned 
that  she  had  died  in  Paris.  One  of  her  brothers  conducted  me  from  his 
office  in  Cairo  at  the  time  I  called  on  him  in  '64,  to  his  home  and  showed 
me  with  pride  many  huge  packages  of  letters  written  to  his  sisters  by 
soldiers  of  high  and  low  degree  and  these  he  said — and  he  held  up  a 
large  bundle  of  them — are  the  labored  productions  of  untutored  men  and 
more  highly  prized  by  my  sister  than  those  addressed  to  her  by  gifted 
officers  in  exalted  positions.  He  referred  to  some  letters  of  the  former 
class  that  gave  evidence  of  a  chiro^raphical  and  a  mental  struggle  on  the 
part  of  the  writers  that  was  most  touching. 

I  can  fancy  this  humane,  tenderhearted  and  loving  woman  bending 
over  one  of  these  and  when,  after  much  patient  study,  its  sweet  mes 
sage  of  esteem  and  gratitude  breaks  upon  her  like  the  sun  from  a  rift 
in  a  cloud,  it  drops  from  her  trembling  hand  and  she  surrenders  herself 
to  tears  of  joy  otherwise  unspeakable. 

The  hospital  in  Mound  City  was  in  charge  of  Dr.  Pranklyn  of  St. 
Louis,  who  lived  with  his  family  in  Mound  City.  An  able  and  zealous 
staff  of  younger  doctors  resided  in  the  hospital  building  as  did  the  nur 
ses  who  belonged  to  a  Catholic  Order  in  Indianapolis  called  "The  Sisters 
of  the  Holy  Cross"  and  an  exceeptionally  worthy  band  they  were  in 
every  way.  They  were  presided  over  by  an  elderly  matron  known  as 
Mother  Angela  for  whom  I  had  the  highest  respect  and  esteem,  a  senti 
ment  I  entertained  for  all  sisters — but  Mother  and  Sister  Angela  were  my 
particular  friends.  Before  entering  the  order  Sister  Angela  lived  in 
Philadelphia.  She  was  an  American  and  had  not  long  been  a  member 
of  the  Romish  church  for  which  she  forsook  the  Espiscopal.  She  was  a 
very  superior  women  intellectually  and  possessed  many  accomplish 
ments  which,  together  with  a  comely  face  and  many  personal  graces, 
made  her  a  very  interesting  and  attractive  person.  Many  a  chat  we  had 
and  no  subject  of  mutual  interest  was  neglected  or  forgotten. 

I  must  relate  an  experience  of  her's  that  illustrates  her  amiability 
and  kindness  and  also  how  prone  the  uncharitable  and  bigoted  are  to 
inflict  pain. 

A  poor  fellow  whose  life  was  fast  ebbing  away,  asked  her  as  she  was 
passing  his  bed,  to  please  hold  his  hand  as  his  wife  wo'.ild  do  were  she 
present — that  he  felt  lonely  and  desolate.  Of  course  she  acceded  to  his 
request.  Not  a  word  was  spoken  by  either  and  ten  minutes  before  he 
died  the  ward  master  happened  along  and  angrily  charged  her  with 
proselyting  and  rudely  ordered  her  away,  notwithstanding  she  explained 
how  she  came  to  be  thus  situated.  Gently  placing  the  wasted  hand  upon 
the  breast  where  it  so  soon  was  to  repose  in  death,  she  came  to  me 


258  HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

weeping,  and  acting  upon  my  suggestion,  she  complained  to  Dr.  Frank- 
lyn  who  at  once  returned  her  persecutor  to  his  regiment. 

From  the  beginning  my  nourishment  came  from  the  doctor's  table, 
by  whose  authority  and  whose  instrumentality  I  never  knew  nor  do  I 
remember  that  I  inquired,  and  also  from  the  day  I  entered  the  hospital 
Mrs.  Dr.  Franklyn  sent  me  very  frequently  from  her  home  in  Mound 
City,  the  most  sumptuous  dishes,  and  the  major  portion  of  what  I  re 
ceived  each  day  from  both  sources,  I  gave  to  those  in  the  ward  who 
most  needed  nourishing  food  and  in  this  way  each  one  in  his  turn  was 
served.  The  stewardess — a  good  friend  of  mine — and  who  came  up 
daily  to  see  me — never  failed  to  congratulate  me  on  my  robust  appetite, 
and  would  say  with  a  chuckle  of  glee,  that  my  dishes  were  returned  to 
the  kitchen  with  not  a  suggestion  of  food  on  them.  The  good  soul 
didn't  know  that  others  beside  myself  partook  of  her  abundance. 

One  morning  and  at  an  hour  so  early  that  the  outlines  of  objects 
could  be  but  dimly  discerned,  I  was  aroused  by  a  cold  hand  laid  upon 
my  face.  On  opening  my  eyes  I  beheld  an  apparition — a  veritable  ghost 
or  has  the  poor  fellow — I  asked  myself — who  was  borne  yesterday  to 
the  "dead  room"  been  resurrected,  and  while  speculating  on  the  origin 
of  the  figure  clad  in  white  and  so  attenuated  ias  to  seem  only  fit  to  hang 
on  the  wall  as  a  text  in  anatomy,  the  mystery  was  explained  by  a 
skull  bending  over  me  and  in  a  voice  tremulous  with  weakness  whis 
pering: — "When  your  breakfast  comes  in,  won't  you  give  me  some  of 
your  fried  potatoes?"  When  sufficiently  composed  to  speak — for  I  was 
deeply  moved  by  his  plaintive  appeal — I  assured  him  he  should  have  all 
he  wanted.  I  recognized  in  him  the  poor  consumptive  who  occupied  the 
bed  nearest  the  door  through  which  Mrs.  Franklyn's  servant  entered 
with  my  breakfast  from  which  was  exhaled  the  delicious  aroma  of  the 
dish  he  craved. 

You  can  perhaps  realize  the  overpowering  strength  of  his  desire 
when  I  tell  you  at  what  cost  "he  secured  its  gratification.  For  a  week 
and  more  he  had  been  daily  expected  to  die  so  rapid  had  been  the  pro 
gress  of  his  disease  and  when  the  doctors  learned  of  what  he  had  done, 
they  were  amazed.  His  feebleness  was  so  extreme  that  he  could  not 
stand  steadily  and  he  fairly  tottered  as  he  traversed  the  long  ward  and 
would  certainly  have  fallen  had  he  not  found  support  in  the  row  of  bed 
steads  along  the  wall.  After  he  had  eaten  his  fried  potatoes,  at  my  re 
quest,  I  was  carried  in  my  chair  to  his  bedside  to  enquire  if  he  had  en 
joyed  them.  He  actually  laughed  when  he  told  how  nice  they  were  and 
the  scene  was  altogether  so  pathetic  as  to  bring  tears  to  the  eyes  of  the 
stalwart  fellows — my  comrades — who  were  kind  enough  to  carry  me  to 
him.  I  recalled  the  following  stanza  of  The  Last  Leaf:  — 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  259 

But  now  his  nose  is  thin, 
And  it  rests  upon  his  chin 

Like  a  staff, 

And  a  crook  is  in  his  back, 
And  a  melancholy  crack 

In  his  laugh. 

When  about  to  leave  the  hospital  I  was  examined,  as  I  desired  to 
remain  in  the  service,  and  the  decision  was  that  I  would  not  again  be  fit 
for  military  duty.  I  must  now  bring  these  war  recollections  to  a  close 
notwithstanding  my  stock  of  them  is  by  no  means  exhausted.  In  read 
ing  the  foregoing  I  find  I  have  omitted  to  say  that  my  St.  Louis  friend 
who  discovered  me  lying  on  the  river  bank  and  who  promised  to  see 
me  in  Columbus,  was  granted  permission  by  Gen'l  Polk  to  take  me  to 
his  home  in  Jackson  where  his  wife,  also  my  friend,  had  a  warm  corner 
and  a  warmer  heart  awaitinj  me.  The  surgeons  said  they  would  not 
answer  for  my  life  were  I  moved,  and  consequently  I  remained  where  I 
was. 

CALEB  GREEN. 


1  enlisted  in  the  army,  June  15th,  1861,  at  Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  Co.  C. 
7th  Iowa  Inft.  Regiment  rendezvous  at  Burlington,  Iowa;  went  from 
there  to  St.  Louis,  Jefferson  Barracks,  and  was  ordered  from  there  to 
Wilson's  Creek,  Md.,  but  had  no  arms;  after  a  few  hours'  delay,  we  re 
ceived  arms  and  animunMicii,  and  started,  but  were  stopped  on  the  way, 
the  battle  being  over.  We  turned  back,  and  were  soon  ordered  to  Ken 
tucky.  After  scouting  around  through  the  country  for  a  while,  we 
finally  crossed  the  river,  and  took  up  c.imp  at  Birdspoint,  Mo.  Soon  our 
men  on  picket  post  were  being  shot  from  ambush.  Gen.  McClernard 
sent  out  scouting  parties,  to  find  the  enemy  which  they  soon  located  at 
Belmont,  with  Jeff.  Thomson  in  command.  He  resolved  to  break  up  his 
camp  forthwith.  So  on  the  6th  of  November  we  were  ordered  on 
transport,  five  regiments,  amounting  to  at  out  3000  men,  and  two  or  three 
pieces  of  artillery.  Gen.  Grant  in  command,  on  a  trip  proceeded 
down  the  river,  accompanied  by  two  gun-boats,  within  a  few  miles  of 
Columbus,  Ky.  On  the  morning  of  the  7th  we  landed  on  the  Missouri 
side,  in  a  dense  woods  leaving  the  gun-boats  to  guard  the  river  and 
transport.  We  marched  towards  Belmont,  two  or  three  miles,  when  we. 
were  called  to  a  halt.  While  resting  the  Confederates  on  the  height  at 
Columbus  saluted  us  with  a  64-pound  shot  from  the  cannon  they  called 
the  Lady  Pope;  it  passed  over  us  about  the  tree  tops,  striking  the  ground 
just  in  our  rear  and  disappearing  in  the  ground.  This  was  the  first 
signal  of  war  we  had  heard.  It  caused  great  excitment  among  the  boys, 
We  were  soon  on  the  march  again,  and  formed  a  line  of  battle  within 


260  HISTORY    OP   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

a  half  a  mile  of  the  enemy's  camp,  and  for  the  first  time  loaded  our  guns 
for  action.  By  this  time  we  could  see  the  enemy  forming  in  line,  both 
armies  advancing  until  we  met  within  close  range  and  the  fighting  be 
came  general.  We  had  orders  to  charge  the  enemy;  they  gave  way  and 
retreated  over  the  river  bank,  a  great  many  surrendering.  In  the  mean 
time  there  had  been  a  detachment  of  men  sent  below  to  keep  the  enemy 
from  escaping  down  the  river.  They  got  lost  in  a  swamp  and  had  trouble 
to  find  their  way  back;  this  detained  us  for  about  one  hour.  A  stray  shot 
from  the  river  bank  gave  me  a  slight  wound  in  the  leg.  Seeing  there 
were  several  miles  between  pur  army  and  the  boats,  the  enemy  crossed 
over  the  river  several  thousand  men  and  stationed  them  between  us  and 
the  boats;  seemingly  the  gun-boats  knew  nothing  about  this;  we  were 
ordered  to  retreat,  and  in  five  minutes  one  of  the  terrible  slaughters 
took  place,  as  they  were  formed  in  line  on  both  sides  of  us  they  shot 
their  own  men  as  well  as  ours. 

In  running  the  gauntlet,  Lieut.  Col.  Wentz,  of  the  7th  Iowa,  (who 
was  Capt.  of  the  1st  Iowa  at  the  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,)  lost  his  life. 
After  running  the  gauntlet,  I  was  sent  back  after  him,  and  without  being 
molested,  found  the  lieutenant  colonel  in  a  dying  condition.  He  beg 
ged  to  be  left  alone.  I  started  for  the  Union  boats,  but  before  I  got  there 
the  fight  became  general  again.  I  arrived  in  time  to  see  our  boats 
pulling  away  leaving  myself  and  others  on  the  bank  with  the  enemy. 
I  was  called  on  to  surrender,  which  I  did,  and  was  soon  hustled  to  the 
rear.  On  going  back  to  the  river,  we  met  many  Confederates  who  were 
drunk  and  very  abusive  at  different  times.  The  officer  had  to  interfere 
to  keep  them  from  carrying  out  their  threats.  I  was  finally  put  on 
board  a  steamer,  close  to  the  first  battle  ground,  and  was  taken  across 
the  river  to  Columbus,  with  many  others,  and  was  lodged  in  an  old 
wharf-boat.  The  next  day  we  received  many  Confederate  visitors, 
some  who  called  to  see  their  first  Yankee.  After  a  short  stay  on  the 
.boat,  we  were  removed  to  a  transport.  The  first  exchange  of. prisoners 
now  tooK  place.  Grant  and  .Cheatham  negotating  the  exchange.  Cheat- 
.ham  gave  up  the  wounded  for  what  was  captured  of  his  men. 
^  .  When  the, Confederate. prisoners. came  down  the  river, Gen.Cheatham 
.ordered  a. salute  fired . from,,.the  Lady  Pope,  (the  large  cannon  used  .in 
che  fight.)-  But  on  the.  day  of.,  the  fight,  they  got  .a  ball  fast  in  it  and 
could  not  get  it  out.  When  the  prisoners  .arrived,  Gen  Cheatham  listen 
ed  for  the  salute,  and  failing  to  hear  it,  rode  up  to  the  cannoneers  and 
asked,,  "Why  in  h— 1  they  didn't  fire  that  salute,"  and,  jumping  from  his 
;.iorse,  called  for  the  match  .and  line  and  fired  the  cannon  himself.  It 
bursted  and  killed  fifteen  men  and  wounded  him  badly.  (I  state  the 
above  as  I  heard  it.)  We  were  taken  from  here  to  Memphis  and  lodged 
in  an  old  slave  pen.  The  pen  was  floored  with  rock,  and  on  frosty  morn 
ings  was  very  slippery.  While  I  was  hobbling  around  on  my  wounded 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  261 

leg  I  slipped  on  the  rock  and  very  near  dislocated  my  knee.  By  this  time 
we  were  getting  very  hungry  as  we  had,  had  nothing  to  eat  since  we  left 
Columbus  and  the  question  arose  as  how  we  were  to  be  fed.  The  good 
ladies  of  Memphis  proposed  to  feed  us,  which  they  were  granted  the  priv 
ilege  of  doing,  and  about  four  o'clock  that  evening  we  were  treated 
to  baker's  bread,  roasted  beef,  and  sweet  potatoes;  all  we  wanted.  We 
fared  sumptuously  for  some  time.  But  Capt.  May  who  had  charge  of  the 
city  found  out  that  we  were  better  fed  than  his  soldiers,  and  had  a  heavy 
stockade,  twelve  feet  high,  built  around  the  medical  college,  and  changed 
our  quarters  to  that  place,  entirely  cutting  off  our  supplies  and  putting 
us  on  one-fourth  rations,  giving  the  guards  very  strict  orders  concerning 
our  liberties.  We  stayed  here  several  months,  sometimes  going  two  or 
three  days  without  anything  to  eat;  at  one  time  so  long  that  the  men 
got  desperate  and  declared  at  four  o'clock  if  they  did  not  get  rations, 
they  would  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible.  Some  one  carried  this 
word  to  the  guards  and  the  authorities  of  the  town  were  notified.  All 
the  troops  of  artillery  were  ordered  to  the  scene. 

We  had  just  formed  in  line  when  an  officer  rode  up  and  plead  with 
us  to  wait  a  few  minutes,  that  provisions  were  coming,  which  arrived 
about  twenty  minutes  after  four,  and  settled  all  the  trouble.  We  had 
cards  and  tobacco  furnished  us  by  the  guards,  especially  after  the 
Creoles  guarded  us,  for  they  seemed  loyal  to  the  northern  cause.  So  the 
time  passed  on  without  anything  of  great  importance  until  the  last 
day  of  February,  when  we  got  orders  that  we  would  be  moved  on  the 
first  day  of  March  to  the  Commercial  Exchange  building  and  be  placed 
with  Ft.  Pillow  prisoners.  Now  I  imagined  that  if  I  could  conceal  myself 
I  could  make  my  escape,  so  I  immediately  began  to  look  for  a  place 
to  hide.  The  house  was  large  with  several  rooms  and  three  stories  high. 
After  searching  some  time  for  a  place,  I  decided  there  was  but  one, 
and  that  was  under  the  stair-way  leading  up  to  the  attic.  I  looked  for 
someone  to  go  with  me  and  found  two  stout  robust  boys,  Danial  McTa- 
gart  and  Sylvanus  Haughey  of  Co.B,able  to  stand  the  hardships  with  my 
self.  In  the  morning  of  March  1st,  after  eating  breakfast  we  resolved 
to  secrete  ourselves.  We  secured  a  heavy  bar  of  iron  to  raise  the  steps 
out  of  their  grooves,  which  we  did  with  the  aid  of  Wm.  Moore  of  Oska- 
loosa,  Iowa  and  J.  Foster  of  Alton,  111.  We  three  crawled  in,  just  filling 
the  hole  full,  taking  the  bar  of  iron  with  us  to  assist  us  in  getting  out. 
Then  Moore  and  Foster  placed  the  steps  back  in  place  and  sprink 
led  and  swept  the  steps,  hiding  all  traces.  Now  we  were  cooped  up  with 
two  canteens  of  water,  a  wash  pan  and  a  blanket  apiece,  without  any 
thing  to  eat,  expecting  to  come  out  that  evening.  About  ten  o'clock  the 
prisoners  were  ordered  to  fall  in  line,  forming  in  the  house.  The  officer 
of  the  guard  went  to  the  door  and  called  the  roll,  and  as  each  man's 
name  was  called  he  passed  out.  When  our  names  were  called  i-e  inquired 


262  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

where  we  were.  Some  said  they  had  not  seen  us  for  a  week  or  ten  days, 
while  others,  ignorant  of  our  whereabouts,  said  they  had  seen  us  there 
that  morning.  They  passed  on  with  the  balance  of  the  names  and  then 
said  they  would  find  the  Yankees.  They,  believing  that  we  were  some 
where  in  the  house  searched  every  nook  and  corner,  with  tneir  revolvers 
in  their  hands,  swearing  they  would  kill  us  if  they  found  us.  They 
searched  some  time  for  us  and  at  one  time  in  coming  down  the  steps 
paused  for  a  moment  about  the  steps  we  had  removed.  Thinking  they 
had  seen  the  marks  on  the  steps  caused  our  hearts  to  beat  so  loud  we 
were  afraid  they  could  hear  us,  but  they  passed  on  and  seemed  to  oe  as 
much  or  more  excited  than  we  were. 

By  this  time  they  had  established  headquarters  for  recruiting  their 
army  with  officers  and  about  one  hundred  men.  They  occupied  all  the 
rooms  except  the  one  where  we  were  concealed  under  the  steps,  as  luck 
would  have  it, making  their  kitchen  directly  under  us.  They  had  for 
their  cook  an  old  negro  woman.  The  weather  being  very  cool  we  had  to 
sneeze  and  cough,  and  at  one  time  the  old  lady  became  uneasy  and  de 
clared  to  the  master  that  the  house  was  haunted.  He  said  that  you  could 
not  expect  anything  else,  that  hundreds  of  bodies  had  been  dissected  in 
this  room,  "Before  God  no  wonder  the  Spirits  are  here,"  and  this  ended 
the  ghost  story.  We  remained  here  in  this  position  until  the  6th  of 
March,  and  decided  that  we  had  better  get  out  of  there  while  we  could. 
At  twelve  o'clock,  while  the  officers  and  men  were  at  dinner,  we  heard 
an  officer  tell  the  men  not  to  leave  as  they  were  going  down  town  to  be 
sworn  in.  Thinking  this  would  be  our  chance  we  prepared  ourselves 
for  getting  out  but  when  the  time  came  we  found  ourselves  too  weak  to 
raise  the  steps.  These  steps  had  been  built  across  the  window,  leaving 
part  above  and  part  below,  just  enough  below  to  let  us  pass  out.  The 
question  now  arose  whether  we  had  strength  enough  to  hold  our  weight 
with  our  hands.  We  decided  we  could  not,  but  we  agreed  to  help  each 
other,  so  we  hoisted  the  window  and  I  started  out  first  and  with  the  aid 
of  the  other  two  made  the  circuit  around  the  steps;  landed  safe  on  the  in 
side  and  called  for  the  next.  All  three  of  us  were  soon  in  the  room; 
but  sitting  in  one  position  for  six  days  and  without  anything  to  eat,  our 
legs  became  unmanageable.  We  rolled  and  tumbled  around  the  room 
and  kept  exercising  until  we  could  walk.  There  was  a  guard  left  at  the 
gate  of  the  stockade  and  we  were  forced  to  pass  down  below  the  house, 
finding  a  box  about  four  feet  high  in  front  of  the  house,  where  there 
were  two  or  three  women  standing  looking  at  us,  and  they  hallooed, 
"Hurrah  for  the  boys,  get  away  if  you  can!"  We  strated  north  and  were 
soon  on  the  business  street  of  the  city,  ragged  and  dirty,  and  so  weak 
we  could  hardly  walk.  We  started  east,  whistling  Dixie,  and  were  soon 
out  of  danger.  We  got  about  six  miles  from  the  city  and  stopped  and 
asked  for  something  to  eat.  The  lady  said  they  did  not  have  much  to 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  263 

eat,  but  if  we  would  wait  until  they  could  cook  it  we  were  welcome 
to  it.  Of  course  we  waited,  and  on  short  notice  we  were  invited  into 
the  house  and  served  with  a  cup  of  rye  coffee  and  a  small  piece  of  corn 
bread.  The  folks  all  leaving  the  room,  we  had  no  more  than  tasted  our 
coffee  when  a  young  lady  with  a  Confederate  officer's  hat  on  entered 
the  room  and  said  her  brother  was  a  recruiting  officer  for  the  Confed 
erate  army,  and  he  was  at  the  barn  putting  his  horse  away.  Fearing 
trouble  we  took  our  little  piece  of  corn  bread  and  started  for  the  woods; 
by  this  time  it  was  raining  and  sleeting.  We  skulked  around  until  dark 
and  took  shelter  in  a  corn  shock;  in  the  morning  we  were  awakened  by 
dogs  which  followed  us  for  three  days  and  nights. 

It  was  our  intention  to  strike  the  Tennessee  River  above  Ft.  Henry, 
and  in  order  to  do  this  we  wanted  to  pass  through  Fayette  county, 
Tenn.,  and  travel  northeast,  but  being  crowded  close  with  dogs  and 
men,  we  circled  around  and  travelled  almost  due  west,  and  crossed  the 
railroad  sixteen  miles  north  of  Memphis,  and  went  into  the  Mississippi 
swamps  and  stayed  there  two  days  and  nights  trying  to  find  our  way  out. 
We  had  to  travel  all  the  time  to  keep  out  of  reach  of  the  dogs.  After 
finding  our  way  out  we  travelled  north  on  the  railroad  till  we  came  in 
sight  of  what  we  understood  to  be  Bear  Creek,  where  we  saw  soldiers 
guarding  the  bridge.  Seeing  the  dogs  behind  us  and  the  men  in  front, 
we  turned  toward  the  east  and  inquired  of  a  lady  for  a  place  to  cross 
the  river.  She  cited  us  to  a  foot-log  two  miles  above.  We  found  the  log 
just  about  dark,  which  was  about  twenty  feet  above  the  water,  and  being 
about  run  down,  we  either  had  to  kill  the  dogs  or  surrender,  for  they 
were  close  at  our  heels.  We  soon  devised  a  plan  to  kill  the  dogs.  We 
got  a  good  club  apiece  and  the  boys  lifted  me  into  a  tree,  and  then 
they  passed  over  the  foot-log  and  hid  behind  a  tree  right  on  the 
bank;  up  came  the  dogs  and  passed  directly  under  me  and  mounted 
the  log  to  cross.  Immediately  we  sprang  to  each  end  of  the  log.  One 
blow  across  the  back  felled  one  to  the  water  below,  the  other  met  the 
same  fate  at  the  other  end  and  we  were  once  more  free.  Through  the 
excitement  and  exertion  of  killing  the  dogs  I  was  unable  to  crosa 
without  the  aid  of  the  other  boys,  but  finally  got  across  and  went  up  the 
river.  We  came  to  a  log  hut  where  we  got  something  to  eat  and  stayed 
all  night.  After  supper  the  lady  wanted  to  know  where  we  were  going, 
and  of  course  we  were  going  to  join  a  Confederate  regiment.  She  asked 
our  opinion  concerning  the  war,  and  how  it  would  terminate.  Of  course 
we  gave  favorable  answers  to  all  the  questions,  which  were  many. 

She  said  she  hoped  the  war  never  would  be  in  her  part  of  the 
country,  but  if  it  was,  she  had  enough  strychnine  in  the  house  to  kill 
a  dozen  Yanks,  and  she  would  use  it  too.  Of  course  I  was  no  Yankee  for 
I  believed  that  woman  was  in  earnest.  We  retired  for  the  night  and  had 
a  splendid  nights  rest.  After  eating  a  hearty  breakfast  we  set  out  on 


264  HISTORY   OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

our  journey  in  a  very  good  spirit.  We  did  not  travel  more  than  a  day 
and  a  half  until  we  ran  into  a  part  of  Forrest's  army.  The  country  seem 
ed  to  be  full  of  soldiers,  and  for  our  own  saftey  we  had  to  hide  in  day 
time  and  travel  at  night,  which  was  slow  work  and  deprived  us  of  any 
thing  to  eat.  We  kept  this  up  until  forced  to  call  for  something  to  eat. 
So  on  the  night  of  the  17h  of  March,  we  went  to  a  house  where  a  man 
lived  by  the  name  of  Taylor,  and  asked  for  something  to  eat  and  lodg 
ing.  We  were  accommodated  and  ate  the  first  ham  and  eggs  for  several 
months.  After  supper  we  decided  that  we  were  in  a  bad  place.  At 
this  time  my  right  knee  was  giving  me  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  and  I 
advised  the  boys  to  go  on,  but  they  said  no.  We  sat  by  the  fire  until  bed 
time.  Being  worn  out  and  chilled  we  thought  we  would  take  the  chances 
and  stay  all  night,  and  retired.  There  were  men  coming  and  going  all 
night,  which  convinced  us  there  was  trouble  ahead.  We  had  plenty  of 
chances  to  go  to  the  woods,  but  we  knew  it  would  be  of  no  use  for  we 
were  near  worn  out  and  had  to  rest.  We  got  so  weak  we  were  hardly 
able  to  climb  a  rail  fence.  So  in  the  morning  about  sunrise,  eight  or 
ten  men  arrived  at  the  house  and  said  they  had  orders  to  arrest  any 
one,  white  or  black,  that  was  going  north  or  south,  east  or  west,  that 
did  not  have  papers  to  show  who  they  were  or  where  they  were  going. 
So  we  were  made  prisoners  once  more,  taken  to  Jackson,  Tenn.,  and 
turned  over  to  the  Provost  Marshal  and  put  in  jail.  This  was  the  18th 
day  of  March. 

The  jailor,  an  old  man,  as  he  was  accused  of  leaning  toward  the 
Union  side,  begged  us  not  to  get  away  from  him,  as  the  people  there 
would  mob  him.  We  told  him  that  we  would  not  get  away  if  he  would 
feed  us.  The  jail  was  made  of  wood  and  lined  with  heavy  timbers  set 
endways  and  driven  full  of  nails,  so  that  a  mouse  could  not  have  es 
caped.  We  fared  well  and  had  many  visitors.  All  seemed  to  be  sociable 
enough  except  one  schoolma'am  from  the  northern  states.  She  thought 
we  ought  to  be  hung,  possibly  to  keep  herself  from  hanging.  We  were 
confined  in  jail  until  the  6th  of  April.  Then  the  authorities  of  the  town 
becoming  uneasy  as  the  result  of  the  battle,  now  in  full  blast  at  Shiloh, ' 
and  distinctly  heard  by  us,  put  us  aboard  the  cars  and  started  south  with 
us  to  Corinth,  Miss.,  where  we  landed  about  dark  and  were  placed  in 
a  small  house  with  a  sign  over  the  door  "Secession  Saloon,"  with  twelve 
guards  to  guard  us.  They  had  orders  to  shoot  us  if  we  tried  to  get  away, 
and  things  looked  like  ^we  were  there  to  stay,  the  building  being  two 
stories  high.  They  abused  us  some,  and  told  us  to  try  and  get  away, 
for  they  wanted  a  chance  to  shoot  a  Yankee.  The  guards  off  duty  had 
laid  down  and  were  asleep;  all  was  quiet  except  the  patter  of  the  rain. 
Just  at  this  time  Gen.  Prentice  and  700  men  who  had  been  captured  at 
Shiloh,  were  marched  in  front  of  the  building.  The  guards,  anxious  to 
see  the  Yanks,  rushed  to  the  door.  I  took  my  departure  through  the 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  265 

Jack  door,  up  the  steps,  and  in  a  moment  was  followed  by  one  of  the 
//ther  boys.     Thinking  it  might  be  the  guard  I  fixed  to  jump  from  the 
'window,  and  then  watched  to  see  who  it  was.     Seeing  that  it  was  one 
of  my  comrades,  I  stepped  back  to  an  old  bedstead,  picked  up  one  of  the 
rails,  handed  it  to  him,  and  told  him  to  put  it  from  the  window  onto  the 
roof  of  another  house.    I  picked  up  a  piece  of  carpet  and  threw  it  across 
the  bed  rail,  and  in  less  than  a  half  of  a  minute  we  were  both  plodding 
our  way  through  the  rain  and  mud,  leaving  the  third  man  for  them  to 
guard.    As  I  passed  out  behind  the  building  I  picked  up  a  club,  seeming 
to  be  a  wagon  spoke,  and  carried  it  in  my  hands.    We  were  soon  halted 
by  a  guard  and  advanced  to  give  the  countersign;  seized  the  end  of  his 
gun  and  hit  him  over  the  head,  then  ran  out  of  the  way,  passing  in  front 
of  Gen.   Johnson's   headquarters,   and   we   saw   a  large  crowd  of  men 
gathered  around  the  door.    We  stopped  and  looked,  and  while  standing 
there  a  man  rode  up  to  us  in  a  great  hurry  and  asked  us  if  Gen.  John 
son  was  dead.     We  told  him  we  did  not  know.     From  here  we  started 
east,  travelled  all  night  in  the  rain.    Thinking  we  were  far  from  Corinth, 
made  inquiry  of  a  colored  man  how  far  it  was  to  Corinth,  and  found  to 
our  astonishment  we  were  outside  of  the  breastworks  which  were  not 
over  three  miles  from  the  town.    We  concealed  ourselves  as  well  as  we 
could,  and  remained  hid  all  day  in  hearing  distance  of  Monday's  fight 
at  Shiloh.    Getting  the  direction  and  feeling  more  determined  than  ever, 
at  dark  started  on  our  way,  passing  around  guards  at  different  places. 
We  kept  our  course  better  than  the  night  before.     Getting  very  tired 
we  sat  down  on  a  log  to  rest.     We  heard  cavalry  coming  toward  us, 
and  laid  ourselves  down  close  to  the  log,  our  heads  together,  to  let  them 
pass  us.    They  rode  over  the  log,  directly  over  our  heads,  covering  our 
heads  completely  with  mud.     One  man  remarked:     "Lieutenant,  them 
Yankees  fight  like  h— 1,  don't  they  "    He  answered:     "They  do."    After 
awhile  another  says,  "Jim,  how  many  men  did  we  lose  in  this  fight?" 
"Lots  of  them;    we  would  have  whipped  had  Gen.  Johnson  not  been 
killed."     This  was  the  first  we  knew  of  the  victory.     There  seemed  to 
be  a  space  of  about  fifty  yards  in  the  cavalry  when  I  spoke  to  my  partner 
and  asked  him  if  one  of  the  horses  stepped  on  his  head  would  he  hallow. 
"No,"  he  answered,  "not  since  I  heard  what  Jim  said."     The  rest  of 
the  cavalry  followed  the  same  path  without  speaking  but  few  words. 

After  they  passed  it  left  us  free  to  resume  our  journey.  Then  we 
met  some  artillery  but  did  not  hide  ourselves  as  the  whole  woods  were 
full  of  soldiers.  We  kept  out  of  the  light  of  the  torches.  We  were  go 
ing  one  way  and  they  the  other  until  daylight.  They  were  so  scattered 
that  it  was  impossible  to  ^nd  a  hiding  place.  We  kept  moving  around 
them  all  day,far  enough  away  from  them  not  to  be  recognized.  Late  in 
the  evening  we  found  we  had  passed  the  main  army  of  the  Confederates. 
Just  at  dusk  we  came  to  a  house,  and  there  being  no  one  at  home,  we 


266  HISTORY    OP   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

went  in  and  searched  for  something  to  eat,  but  found  nothing  but  mo 
lasses  and  parched  coffee.  We  partook  of  the  small  quantity  of  both, 
and  being  somewhat  tired,  we  went  to  the  woods  and  laid  down  be 
tween  two  logs  to  rest  and  talked  the  matter  over.  We  decided  we  were 
out  of  danger  if  we  did  not  lose  our  way.  We  lay  here  all  night,  and 
had  a  very  good  nights  rest.  In  the  morning  we  started  out  very  cau 
tiously,  for  it  was  still  cloudy,  determined  to  not  lose  our  way.  We 
watched  the  house  for  some  time,  and  seeing  no  one  but  a  woman 
moving  about  we  ventured  up  to  inquire.  I  asked  the  nearest  road  to 
the  Confederate  camp.  She  stepped  to  the  end  of  the  porch,  pointed 
down  the  road  and  said  it  was  a  half  mile  to  where  they  were  guarding 
a  bridge.  Just  at  this  time  we  heard  drums  beating  to  our  left.  On 
inquiring  where  they  were  she  said:  "My  goodness,  men,  don't  go 
over  there,  or  the  Yankees  will  get  you."  To  our  surprise  a  man  stepped 
to  the  door  and  said  the  doctor  wanted  to  see  one  of  us.  I  stepped  to 
the  door  and  saw  eight  or  ten  men  sitting  by  the  bedside.  A  man  lay 
on  the  bed.  The  doctor  wrote  on  a  piece  of  paper  and  handed  to  me 
with,  "Please  give  this  to  the  Lieutenant  at  the  bridge."  It  read  as  fol 
lows:  "Lieutenant  wounded  so  bad  we  dare  not  move  him.  Send  -or 
ders  at  once."  Taking  this  paper  we  started  toward  the  bridge. 

When  we  got  out  of  sight  of  the  house,  we  stuck  the  note  in  a 
bush  by  the  road  side,  and  started  for  the  Yankee  drums.  We  soon 
came  to  Owl  Creek,  and  followed  down  slowly,  watching  both  right  and 
left.  Seeing  some  men  we  found  out  they  were  guards,  but  could  not 
tell  who  they  were.  Taking  no  chance  we  turned  to  the  left,  going  to 
the  top  of  the  hill,  we  struck  the  main  road.  Seeing  there  had  been  no 
travel  on  the  road  since  the  rain  we  felt  tolerably  safe,  and  started 
east;  we  came  to  a  swamp,  and  seating  ourselves  on  a  log,  and  won 
dering  where  we  were  and  where  the  Tennessee  River  was,  and  what 
was  best  to  do,  we  saw  a  man  forty  or  fifty  yards  away.  We  hid  be 
hind  a  log.  He  circled  around  to  within  a  rod  of  where  we  were  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  log.  We  rose  up  and  told  him  to  halt,  which 
he  did.  We  asked  him  what  army  he  belonged  to.  In  a  kind  of  a  posi 
tive  way  he  said:  "The  Union  army,  of  course."  I  asked  him  what 
regiment  he  belonged  to.  He  said:  "The  57th  Illinois."  I  asked  him 
his  Colonel's  name  and  his  division  commander,  which  names  were  fa 
miliar  to  me.  Satisfying  ourselves  that  he  was  a  Union  man,  we  told 
him  we  wanted  to  go  to  his  camp,  which  he  allowed  we  were  joking, 
but  seemed  willing  to  go,  leading  off,  and  we  following,  within  three 
minutes  we  were  inside  of  the  line.  We  inquired  for  our  regiment  but 
could  hear  nothing  of  it.  We  went  to  a  hospital  and  told  the  doctor 
that  we  were  very  near  starved.  He  gave  us  a  drink  of  wine,  examined 
our  pulse,  and  pronounced  us  in  a  critical  condition.  He  ordered  us 
some  potato  soup  and  hardtack,  and  watched  to  keep  us  from  eating 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  267 

too  much,  he  requested  us  to  stay  all  night,  which  we  did.  Next 
morning  we  ate  breakfast  and  started  out  to  inquire  for  our  regiment. 
In  a  short  time  we  found  it,  where  we  were  mer  with  a  '"Hurrah." 
After  a  short  stay  with  the  company  of  the  colonel  took  me  to  Grant's 
headquarters,  where  I  stayed  some  time,  and  then  returned  to  my  regi 
ment,  but  was  not  able  for  duty  for  several  weeks. 

JOHN  W.  PIBRSON. 

Tebbetts,  Callaway  Co,  Mo. 


Charles  City,  Iowa,  Jan.  12,  1903. 
Mr.  H.  I.  Smith,  Mason  City,  Iowa. 

Dear  Sir:  Your  "last  call"  has  come  too  late  to  get  response 
from  my  brother,  W.  H.  Mason,  to  whom  it  was  addressed.  He  died 
three  years  ago  at  his  home  in  Ottawa,  Kan.,  where  his  widow  and 
son  now  reside.  I  will  forward  to  Mrs.  Mason  one  of  the  two  circu 
lars  you  sent  here. 

I  will  enclose  with  this  a  clipping  from  the  Bolckow  (Mo.)  Her 
ald,  edited  by  Za  Rutherford,  formerly  of  Co.  B.  7th  Iowa  Regt,  re 
lating  to  a  meeting  between  him  and  my  brother  some  fifteen  years 
ago.  It  shows  the  strong  bond  of  attachment  formed  by  the  boys 
who  shared  the  dangers  and  endured  the  hardships  of  war  together — 
another  proof  that  "Dangers  shared  is  friendship  proved." 

I  was  a  girl  of  sixteen  when  the  war  broke  out,  full  of  patriot 
ism,  and  gave  much  of  my  time  to  what  I  believed  to  be  a  patriotic 
duty  of  answering  each  and  every  letter  from  the  twenty-two  soldier 
friends — many  of  them  schoolmates  whom  I  had  more  or  less  in 
fluenced  to  enlist.  Oh,  those  days  of  recruiting  officers,  war  meetings, 
martial  music,  floating  flags,  marching  soldiers!  Can  the  picture 
ever  fade?  To  this  day  the  fife  and  drum  strikes  a  chill  to  my  heart 
that  is  indescribable.  The  shrill  notes  of  the  fife  and  the  marching 
beat  of  the  drum  recall  the  enthusiasm  of  those  war  times,  of  the 
"Golden  Circle"  meetings,  the  picking  of  lint,  sewing  bandages,  ty 
ing  comforters,  packing  boxes,  watching  the  papers  for  news  from 
the  last  battle,  the  long  lists  of  killed  and  wounded — read  with  bated 
breath  lest  we  come  to  names  of  our  own  boys.  Truly,  Mr.  Smith,  those 
were  days  of  anxiety  unknown  only  to  those  who  were  urging  dear 
ones  to  face  death  upon  Southern  battlefields,  weeping  and  praying 
for  them  after  they  were  gone.  They  cannot  even  now  be  described 
though  sensibly  felt  them.  Then  there  were  those  furloughs,  that  took 
every  other  thought  away  from  us,  when  every  boy  who  wore  the 
blue  was  made  a  hero,  but  some  did  not  return.  Fortunate  indeed 
the  home  that  was  not  darkened,  and  happy  the  heart  that  did  not 
meet  its  bitterest  grief  in  all  the  carnage  of  those  four  dreadful  years. 


268  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

I  am  keenly  alive  to  all  that  pertains  to  war  reminiscences, 
and  especially  so  to  that  of  Co.  B  of  the  valiant  old  7th  Iowa  regiment 
in  which  my  brother  served  all  through  the  war  and  which  numbered 
in  its  ranks  the  battle-scarred  heroes  of  more  than  a  score  of  battles, 
beginning  with  Grant  at  Belmont  and  ending  with  Sherman  in  that 
march  to  the  sea,  then  on  to  Washington  to  that  Grand  Review  and 
from  Washington  triumphantly  back  to  the  outstretched  arms  of  a 
grateful  people.  Glory  enough  to  brighten  the  last  days  of  the  old 
veterans  until  they  are  called  to  respond  to  that  last  summon, 
"Lights  Out!" 

You  may  add  my  name  to  the  subscription  list  for  a  copy,  cloth 
bound,  of  your  forthcoming  book.  Wishing  you  success,  I  am  very  sin 
cerely,  Your  comrade's  sister, 

MRS.  B.  F.  WRIGHT. 

WE  MEET  A  COMRADE. 
(  From  Bolckow,  Mo.,  Herald.) 

One  morning  lately  as  we  stepped  in  to  the  office  at  the  \alley 
House,  we  met  there  all  unexpected  a  'iriess  mate'  of  twenty-seven  years 
ago,  Billy  Mason,  who  of  late  years  has  been  travelling  for  a  Chicago 
wholesale  house.  Tears  dimmed  our  eyes.  For  moments  neither  could 
speak.  The  surprise  was  mutual.  But  who  is  Billy  Mason,  say  you? 
Billy  Mason  was  the  chum  and  confidential  friend  of  our  soldier  life. 
When  the  throes  of  civil  war  waged  hot  we  went  together  and  at  the 
same  time  enlisted  in  defense  of  our  country's  flag.  The  greater  the 
danger  the  stronger  the  attachment.  On  the  7th  day  of  November,  1861, 
we  parted.  Parted  on  the  field  of  battle,  amid  the  roar  of  cannon  and 
din  of  musketry.  Both  wounded  and  both  prisoners.  Neither  knew 
the  fate  of  the  other.  In  that  long  twenty-seven  years  from  the  fatal 
day  on  the  battlefield  of  November,  '61,  till  the  happy  meeting  in 
Bolckow,  each  mourned  the  other.  Neither  had  a  spark  of  hope  that  he 
would  ever  again  on  this  earth  look  upon  the  face  of  his  lost  comrade. 
We  thought  we  were  strong  but  our  eyes  grew  moist,  and  our  throat 
filled  with  emotion,  as  we  once  more  stood  face  to  face  with  our  friend 
and  comrade.  We  never  before  fully  realized  what  ecstatic  bliss  that 
thrills  the  hearts  of  old  soldiers  to  meet  each  other.  Old  soldiers?  As 
our  mind  flits  back  to  the  day  we  put  on  our  uniform,  it  looks  like  we 
were  robbed  of  our  boyhood  sports.  Gave  up  the  pleasures  of  youth 
for  dreary  marching  and  heavy  muskets.  Poets  and  painters  have  at 
tempted  in  vain  to  picture  the"  sundering  of  sacred  ties  and  the  greet 
ings  of  long  lost  friends.  But  the  wings  of  the  muse  nor  the  brush  of 
the  artist  can  paint  the  feelings  true.  To  part  as  we  parted  and  meet 
again  as  we  met  is  living  life  over  again.  In  the  few  moments  we 


i 


DIFFERENT  FLAGS  CARRIED  BY  THE  REGIMENT  DURING  SERVICE. 
Deposited  in  the  State  Capitol  at  Des  Moines. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  269 

stood  face  to  face  there  flashed  across  our  minds  the  whole  panorama 
of  the  past  twenty-seven  years.  The  parting  on  the  battlefield.  The 
wound  of  the  bullet  healed,  but  the  pain  of  that  parting  to  the  prison 
pen  never  ceased.  The  recollection  of  our  comrade  never  left  our  mind. 
The  varying  vicissitudes  of  life  never  wilted  the  affection  that  budded 
and  bloomed  in  our  youthful  breasts.  That  meeting  was  joy  unstinted. 
Weakness  it  may  appear  to  be,  but  it  is  a  weakness  we  shall  ever 
sacredly  cherish.  Would  that  a  Morris,  a  Fisher,  a  Birdsall,  a  Felt,  a 
McTaggart,  a  Smith,  and  others  of  old  Co.  B  could  have  united  in  our 
reunion  a  week  ago.  Will  it  ever  come? 


COMPANY  "B"  FALL  IN. 

New  York  City,  April  12,  1889. 
Ed.  Bolckow  Herald: 

Dear  Comrade:  Your  hearty  welcome  to  Billy  Mason  and  ex 
ceeding  gladness  in  hearing  from  H.  I.  Smith,  induces  the  belief  that 
a  "sign"  from  another  member  of  Co.  B  will  contribute  still  further  to 
your  pleasure. 

If  I  have  entered  more  into  personal  details  in  the  following 
sketch  than  may  seem  modest,  please  bear  in  mind  that  I  have  writ 
ten  for  the  eyes  of  comrades  whose  fellow  feeling  will  render  of  in 
terest—I  feel  assured — the  most  trivial  incident  of  my  narrative. 

It  was  in  the  attempt  to  cut  through  the  force  sent  over  the 
river  from  Columbus,  Kentucky,  to  intercept  us  when  returning  vic 
torious  to  the  boats  waiting  to  take  us  back  to  Birds  Point,  that  a 
minnie  ball  or  two  of  them  pierced  my  arm  and  body  and  spun  me 
like,  a  top  onto  a  pile  of  dead  brush  which,  by  the  way,  I  have  since 
encountered  in  some  western  mattresses.  I  had  no  sooner  fallen 
than  I  was  surrounded  by  infuriated  "Johnnies,"  by  one  of  .whom  sum 
marily  dispatched  had  not  his  commanding  officer  humanely  interposed. 
Lifted  to  my.  feet  and,  supported  by  two  Johnnies  I  was  marched  .to  .the 
.river. .bank,  notwithstanding  I  .was.  faint  from  pain  and.  hemprrh.age. 
On  reaching  the  shore  I  was  laid  on  my  back  and  then  left  alone.  .Some 
time  after— how  long,  I  can't  determine,  I  was  suddenly  aroused  by  the 
exclamation,  "Why,  Green,  where  did  you  come  from?"  On  opening  my 
eyes  I  was  surprised  and  delighted  to  behold  an  old  St.  Louis  friend 
who  was  in  the  uniform  of  a  Confederate  officer.  After  briefly  explain 
ing  to  him  my  situation,  he  told  me  he  was  in  pursuit  of  "you  fellows," 
and  would  have  to  go,  but  would  visit  me  in  the  hospital  in  Columbus, 
where  I  would  be  taken. 

Later  on,  I  was  borne  on  board  a  steamer  and  conveyed  to  Col- 


270  HISTORY    OP   THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

umbus  then  in  command  of  Bishop  Polk  who  believed,  no  doubt,  that 
in  shooting  down  the  Yanks  he  was  spreading  the  gospel.  On  reaching 
the  Kentucky  shore  I  was  dumped  with  other  helpless  men  into  a  wag 
on  and  trundled  to  the  hospital  over  a  road  as  much  out  of  repair  as 
the  politics  of  Kentuckey  at  that  time.  The  exquisite  torture  to  which  the 
torn  and  bleeding  occupants  of  that  jolting  wagon  were  subjected,  lan 
guage  is  impotent  to  convey  an  idea.  I  was  moved  to  the  profoundest 
pity  for  my  suffering  companions,  many  of  whom  were  worse  wounded 
than  myself.  The  hospital  reached — it  was  a  tavern  before  the  war — 
I  was  dragged  out  of  the  wagon  and  carried  in  and  seated  on  a  flight  of 
stairs,  down  which  I  would  have  rolled  had  I  not  been  supported  by 
the  banisters  against  which,  in  my  weakness,  I  had  fallen. 
Near  me  sat  another  company  B,  waiting  with  heroic  patience  to  have 
his  shattered  arm  examined.  Years  after  I  met  this  young  hero  in 
Cincinnatti,  where  he  was  serving  the  government  in  a  clerical 
capacity — writing  with  his  left  and  only  hand.  From  the  stairs  I  was 
moved  to  the  room  below  and  laid  on  a  pallet  on  the  floor  which  was 
strewn  with  wounded  and  dying.  Shall  I  ever  forget  the  relief  af 
forded  by  that  humble  bed!  Let  me  quickly  say  that  just  here  ended 
all  rough  and  harsh  treatment,  and  at  the  hands  of  one  surgeon  in 
particular,  a  man  about  forty  years  old,  of  grave  demeanor  and  personal 
grandeur,  I  was  the  recipient  of  care  so  tender  and  devoted  as  to  ap 
proach  quite  on  the  verge  of  affection.  It  was  as  if  a  mother's  love  had 
been  instantly  let  loose  upon  me.  His  devotion  is  still  a  mystery.  A 
number  of  surgeons  soon  came  and  looked  at  me  curiously  and  inter 
rogatively,  then  two  knelt  beside  me  and  in  the  kindest  tones  inquired  if 
I  was  badly  hurt  and  how  I  came  to  be  in  the  army  in  such  a  garb. 
I  have  neglected  to  mention  that  the  battle  occurred  so  soon  after  my 
enlistment  that  there  had  not  been  time  to  provide  me  with  a  uniform 
and  consequently  I  had  gone  into  the  field  caporisoned  like  a  city  man 
of  fashion,  and  it  was  my  apparel  that  paralyzed  the  doctors.  During 
the  examination  one  of  the  surgeons  turned  to  me  and  with  a  smile  re 
marked:  "What  a  pity  to  have  spoiled  such  nice  clothes."  I  asked  him 
good  naturedly  to  please  interest  himself  in  the  bones  they  covered. 
"Oh,"  he  quickly  observed,  "you  want  to  live  to  fight  another  day." 
"Yes,"  I  said,  "unless  in  the  meantime  you  repent  and  return  to  your 
father's  house."  "What,  Abraham's  bosom?"  "Of  course,"  I  replied, 
"which  you  wickedly  forsook  for  Beelzebub's."  After  my  wounds  were 
dressed  the  surgeon  lingered  at  my  side.  His  heart,  inspired  by  his  un 
accountable  attachment,  suggested  many  delicate  devices  for  jny  com 
fort  which  his  gentle  hands  nimbly  executed. 

The  other  surgeons  frequently  visited  me  and  one  of  them  intro 
duced  me  to  some  lady  visitors  as  "our  pet  rebel."  They  sometimes  in 
dulged  in  good  humored  banter  concerning  the  war,  which  exposed 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  271 

them  to  some  wholesome  if  not  eloquent  oratory.  But  one  day  an 
order  came  for  an  exchange  of  prisoners  to  be  executed  somewhere  on 
the  Mississippi  river.  A  couple  of  soldiers  in  grey  brought  a  stretcher 
to  my  bedside  one  morning  and  were  about  to  lift  me  by  legs  and 
shoulders.  When  my  surgical  and  steadfast  friend  sternly  rebuked  them 
for  their  lack  of  feeling  and  judgment,  and  directed  them  to  transfer 
the  bed  to  the  stretcher  with  me  upon  it.  This  done,  I  was  borne  direct 
to  the  steamer,  my  surgeon  walking  by  my  side.  The  boat  reached, 
the  doctor  had  me  put  on  a  cot  amidships  where  there  would  be  the 
least  motion,  then  covering  me  with  two  blankets  which  he  took  from 
a  state  room,  he  seated  himself  at  my  head. 

Let  me  digress  to  describe  a  scene  that  exhibited  more  vividly 
than  any  other  of  my  brief  military  experience,  the  dreadful  realities 
of  war.  Near  my  cot  lay  a  dying  drummer  boy.  At  short  intervals 
he  cried  in  tones  so  child-like  and  pitiful:  "Mamma,  come!  Come 
mamma!"  Then  his  filial  love  rising  to  the  sublime  height  of  self- 
sacrifice,  he  exclaimed:  "No,  mamma,  don't  come!  don't  come!  It 
would  kill  you  to  see  me;  it  would  kill  you."  That  night  he  died  and 
was  at  rest.  But  his  poor  mother — what  rest  for  her  when  she  saw 
his  name  among  the  dead,  and  perchance,  read  of  his  having  reached  out 
his  hands  for  her  to  clasp  and  his  last  breath  lovingly  spoke  her  name. 
Go  not  to  the  battlefield  to  witness  the  horrors  of  war,  but  rather  to 
the  myriad  homes  where  hearts  are  bleeding  and  breaking. 

On  reaching  the  Union  steamer  my  friend  superintended  my  trans 
fer,  and  while  he  was  sitting  by  he  received  an  invitation  to  dine  with 
the  Union  officers  but  declined  it,  preferring  to  remain  with  me,  and 
with  me  he  stayed  till  the  last  minute  of  the  truce.  Our  steamer  pro 
ceeded  at  once  to  Mound  City  where  I  had  not  a  few  unusual  experiences 
in  the  great  hospital  presided  over  by  Dr.  Franklin,  of  St.  Louis.  On 
leaving  it,  the  surgeons  discouraged  my  continuing  in  the  army  and 
consequently  I  was  mustered  out. 

CALEB  GREEN. 


BATTLE  OF  BELMONT. 

Mason  City,  Iowa,  March  3,  1889. 
Za  Rutherford:  — 

Dear  Old  Comrade:  Your  article  in  the  Herald  touched  a  sympa 
thetic  chord  in  my  nature,  ana  I  write  to  thank  you  for  the  marked  copy 
you  sent  me.  I  should  probably  never  have  known  where  you  were  or 
what  you  were  doing  had  it  not  been  for  your  meeting  of  one  our  old 
comrades,  which  you  so  pathetically  describe,  who  probably  divulged 
my  whereabouts  to  you.  I  believe  I  separated  from  you  under  about 
the  same  circumstances  that  you  so  grapically  picture — wounded,  and 


272  HISTORY   OF   THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

a  prisoner— only  that  I  was  left  on  the  field  to  die,  while  you  being  able 
to  walk,  was  marched  off  to  a  worse  fate,  a  prisoner  of  war.  Soon  af 
ter  you  were  taken  away,  Gen.  Logan,  who  was  the  Colonel  of  the  31st 
Ills.,  made  a  gallant  charge  with  his  regiment  through  the  rebel  lines 
and  took  me  along  with  thirteen  others  in  an  army  wagon  and  we 
escaped,  although  there  were  three  dead  in  the  wagon  when  we  ar 
rived  at  the  boats.  From  there  I  was  taken  to  Mound  City  hospital,  got 
better,  returned  to  the  regiment,  was  again  wounded,  at  battle  of 
Corinth;  again  recovered,  and  served  until  the  war  closed,  making  me 
a  little  over  four  years  service.  How  few  there  are  left  of  that  old 
regiment  and  how  they  are  scattered;  you  can  scarcely  find  two  in  the 
same  county  from  where  they  were  enlisted. 

I  met  one  of  the  old  company  this  winter  and  it  broke  me  all  up. 
He  was  a  pauper,  and  came  to  see  me  about  getting  a  pension.  He 
served  through  the  war  and  went  to  California,  secured  employment  and 
had  to  give  up  his  position  on  account  of  deafness,  caused  by  a  shell 
bursting  near  his  head  at  the  siege  of  Atlanta.  I  took  him  home  with 
me  and  kept  him  over  night.  In  the  evening  we  talked  over  our  ser 
vice  together,  he  was  so  deaf  I  had  to  use  a  lamp  chimney  for  an  ear 
trumphet,  as  he  had  lost  his  on  his  way  here.  I  furnished  him  a  proper 
certificate  as  to  the  cause  of  his  disablity,  secured  him  transportation 
and  sent  him  back  to  his  family  happy.  In  the  morning  when  we  came 
to  part  I  was  completely  unmanned.  We  both  broke  down  in  spite  of 
all  we  could  do,  notwithstanding  there  were  neighbors  and  strangers 
looking  on.  So  you  can  see  you  are  not  the  only  one  who  was  moved 
to  tears  on  such  occasions.  Don't  be  ashamed,  I  think  it  is  Bayard  who 
says: 

"The  bravest  are  the  tenderest, 

The  loving  are  the  daring." 

There  is  something  indescribable  about  these  meetings  of  old 
comrades;  a  sort  of  painful  pleasure,  too  sacred  and  tender  to  be  appre 
ciated  Or  understood  by  any  but  those  who  went  through  the  fiery  or 
deal,  in  those  dark  portentious  days,  sharing  dangers,  privations  and 
death,  together,  shoulder  to  shoulder.  I  think  there  is  no  man  who 
has  more  cause  for  thankfulness  than  I  in  my  social  and  friendly  re 
lations,  especially  in  my  immediate  family,  with  a  loving  wife  and 
five  interesting  children,  blessed  with  health  and  happiness,  and  I  think 
there  is  none  who  enjoy  and  appreciate  home  more  than  I  do.  Yet  there 
are  times  when  even  sitting  at  my  own  hearthstone  with  all  these  happy 
surroundings,  when  the  shades  of  evening  gather  round,  and  that  sac 
red  hour  of  twilight  when  the  sun  has  sunk  to  rest,  a  time  which  con 
spires  to  bring  out  our  best  nature,  and  engender  beautiful  thoughts, 
that  it  seems  almost  sacrilegious  for  even  my  own  family  to  disturb 
my  reveries  which  hang  like  a  pall  of  sadness  over  me  at  such  times, 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  273 

and  I  weave  in  my  imagination  a  cypress  vine  around  the  shrine  of  those 
who  gave  up  their  young  lives  in  the  cause,  and  who  we  buried  in  un 
known  graves  on  the  field  or  by  the  roadside  on  our  onward  march  to 
victory  gained  at  such  a  terrible  cost. 

I  never  shall  forget  that  day  you  speak  of,  as  you  were  taken 
prisoner.  You  probably  did  not  see  Lieut.  Gardner.  He  was  shot  down 
and  then  clubbed  over  the  face  and  head  with  the  butt  of  a  musket, 
and  left  for  dead,  but  he  was  carried  off  and  taken  to  the  hospital  and 
lived  several  days.  His  face  was  so  disfigured  you  would  not  have 
known  him.  He  was  unable  to  speak  or  see.  I  laid  the  next  cot  to  him 
and  could  not  rest  for  his  moans  from  pain  and  suffering,  and  the 
memory  of  it  to  this  day  clings  to  me  like  a  horrid  nightmare.  I  could 
fill  page  after  page  of  such  trials  and  sufferings  if  I  had  time,  space 
and  descriptive  powers  to  do  so,  but  I  cannot  do  it. 

I  wish  I  could  meet  yo.i.  I  looked  up  your  location  on  the  map 
only  to  find  that  I  had  passed  through  your  town  about  two  years  ago 
and  on  the  same  trip  went  within  a  short  distance  of  where  Dave  An 
drews  lived  in  Nebraska,  and  did  not  know  it  at  the  time  or  would 
have  stopped  over  and  seen  you  both. 

Did  you  ever  look  up  the  record  in  the  Adjt.  General's  office  of  our 
old  regiment?  It  shows  484  killed  and  wounded.  This  does  not  include 
those  who  died  from  disease  or  in  prison.  There  were  130  killed  and 
mortally  wounded.  The  latter  figures  were  not  surpassed  by  any  regi 
ment  from  Iowa,  and  only  equalled  by  one,  the  6th  infantry.  I  know  that 
some  make  greater  claims  for  their  regiments,  but  they  are  not  borne 
out  by  the  record.  The  total  causalities  of  the  regiment  during  the 
.war  was  880. 

The  years  glide  swiftly  by,  and  the  gray  hairs  come  creeping  in. 
It  is  riealry  28  years  since  we  donned  the  blue  together,  and  marched 
out  of  that  little  church  at  Charles  City,  that  beautiful  Sabbath  morn 
ing.  The  probabilities  are  that  we  shall  never  meet  again  this  side  of 
eternity,  but  let  us  hope  and  pray  that  aro  md  the  throne  of  the  Eternal 
God  we  shall  all  be  there  to  answer  to  roll  call  when  the  last  bugle 
sounds  the  assembly. 

God  bless  and  prosper  you  and  yours  is  the  prayer  of  your  old 
comrade  in  arms. 

Co.  B,  7th  Iowa,  Vet.  Infantry.  H.  I.  SMITH. 


ECHOES   FROM   COMPANY   "G." 

In  company  "G"  there  was  an  odd  genius  whose  name  was  Cor 
nelius  Devore  (by  the  way  as  good  a  soldier  as  ever  shouldered  a  mus 
ket),  and  who  was  a  great  admirer  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  Always  when 
the  names  of  great  men  were  under  discussion,  Devore  would  wind  up 
by  saying,  "Abe  Lincoln  is  the  greatest  and  best  man  in  the  world." 


274  HISTORY    OP   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

His  admiration  for  Lincoln  was  so  great  that  he  was  finally  nicknamed 
Lincoln,  and  by  that  name  he  went  through  the  remaining  three 
years  of  service,  and  many  who  knew  him  well,  knew  him  by  no  other 
name. 

On  one  occasion  some  one  suggested  to  him  that  his  great  ad 
miration  for  Lincoln  was  all  for  nothing,  that  Abe  Lincoln  wouldn't 
speak  to  him  if  he  should  meet  him  in  the  road.  Devore  got  excited 
at  this  statement,  and  declared  that  he  would  write  a  letter,  or  have 
one  written,  to  Abe  Lincoln,  that  Lincoln  would  answer  in  person 
himself.  The  wager  was  accepted,  and  all  entered  into  the  matter 
with  a  great  deal  of  interest,  and  Devore  dictated  the  letter.  He 
asked  the  President  in  the  first  place  to  secure  his  discharge  from  the 
army,  and  gave  as  his  reason  that  he  was  the  son  of  an  aged  widowed 
mother,  who  was  not  only  getting  very  old  but  very  feeble;  that  he 
had  a  little  brother  who  was  a  cripple  for  life,  and  that  both  these 
people  were  in  a  large  measure  dependent  on  him  for  support;  that 
his  mother  was  a  good,  true,  loyal  woman,  and  that  out  of  love 'for 
her  country  she  had  consented  for  him  to  go  into  the  service  in  its 
defense;  that  he  had  been  out  now  over  two  years,  had  done  his  whole 
duty,  been  a  brave  and  true  soldier,  and  that  now  it  looked  to  him 
as  though  the  war  might  last  much  longer,  and  that  he  believed  there 
were  others  much  more  able  and  who  had  not  the  same  duties  to 
perform  as  he  had,  and  who  were  willing  and  able  to  do  the  fighting 
for  the  country,  and  that  he  thought  it  was  now  his  duty  to  go  home 
and  look  after  his  old  mother  and  his  crippled  brother.  About  two 
weeks  later  Devore  received  a  letter  enclosed  in  the  well  known  white 
envelope  of  the  Executive  Mansion  at.  Washington. 

Of  course  this  news  flew  from  one  to  another  with  the  rapidity 
of  lightning  that  Devore  had  received  a  letter  from  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  and  in  less  time  than  it  takes  to  write  it,  company 
"G"  was  assembled  to  hear  it  read.  The  great  and  good  man  acknow 
ledged  the  receipt  of  a  letter  and  opened  his  sympathetic  heart  and 
told  Devore  how  sorry  he  was  for  his  good  old  patriotic  mother  and 
his  little  brother  and  stated  how  glad  he  would  be  to  assrst  him; 
also  acknowledged  that  it  was  within  his  power  to  have  him  dis 
charged  from  the  army,  but  stated  that  it  would  be  a  very  bad  pre 
cedent,  and  that  if  he  should  allow  himself  to  be  moved  by  the  sym 
pathetic  and  honest  appeals  which  were  coming  to  him  from  all  parts 
of  the  country,  and  discharge  all  who  were  similarly  situated,  that  it 
would  actually  cripple  the  service.  The  boys  had  lots  of  fun  over  the 
letter,  but  the  great  and  good  Lincoln  never  knew  ttiat  the  letter 
written  to  him  by  Devore  was  the  result  of  a  wager,  and  that  Devore 
had  no  thought  and  no  desire  to  be  discharged  from  the  army.  Not 
withstanding,  every  word  in  the  letter  that  he  wrote  to  the  President 
was  the  truth. 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  275 

A  RARE  RELIC  OF  THE  WAR. 


COVERED  WITH  GORE,  AND  AN  INTERESTING  DESCRIPTION  OF 
THE  SAME,  BY  ONE  OF  OUR  CITIZENS,  WHO 

WAS  AN  EYE  WITNESS. 
(  Froni  Cerr-i  Gordo  County  Republican.) 

N.  P.  Dodge,  of  Council  Bluffs,  passed  through  here  last  week 
and  left  with  Capt.  Smith,  his  brother's,  Maj.  Gen.  G.  M.  Dodge,  com 
mission  which  the  General  had  in  his  pocket  when  he  was  wounded  be 
fore  Atlanta  during  the  war.  It  is  a  rare  relic  of  the  war,  is  printed 
on  parchment,  bears  the  genuine  signature  of  President  Abraham  Lin 
coln,  and  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Sec.  of  War,  and  over  one-half  of  its  sur 
face  is  covered  with  the  blood  that  flowed  from  his  wound.  Capt.  Smith 
was  in  the  rifle  pit  with  him  when  he  was  wounded,  and  Mr.  Dodge 
has  askea  him  to  write  out  the  particular  circumstances  of  his  being 
wounded,  which  with  the  commission  is  to  be  deposited  in  the  State 
Library.  Capt.  Smith  will  take  pleasure  in  showing  it  to  any  one  who 
will  call  at  the  First  National  Bank. 

N.  P.  Dodge,  Council  Bluffs,  lov/a. 

Dear  Sir:  In  compliance  with  your  request,  I  write  to  say  that 
I  am  only  too  glad  to  give  you  my  recollections  of  the  circumstances 
under  which  your  brother,  Maj.  Gen.  G.  M.  Dodge,  was  wounded  Aug. 
18,  1864,  before  Atlanta.  On  the  Atlanta  campaign  the  General  had  com 
mand  of  the  left  wing  of  the  16th  Army  Corps  in  the  Army  of  the  Ten 
nessee,  commanded  by  Maj.  Gen.  McPherson;  who  was  killed  at  the  bat 
tle  of  Atlanta,  July  22,  1864. 

After  the  battle  of  the  22nd  we  swung  'round  to  the  right  of  At 
lanta;  had  a  severe  fight  on  the  28th,  in  which  Logan's  15th  corps  was 
principally  engaged  and  suffered  the  heaviest  loss.  Our  corps  took  ad 
vantage  of  the  comparative  light  resistance  in  our  front,  and  pushed 
our  line,  the  16th  corps,  close  up  to  the  main  rebel  works  around  At 
lanta;  and  held  the  line  until  we  could  throw  up  temporary  works  of 
our  own,  which  we  strengthened  from  day  to  day,  or  I  should  say  from 
night  to  night,  (as  it  was  not  very  healthy  to  be  exposed  building 
breastworks  there  in  daylight)  until  we  had  a  pretty  strong  line  of 
works.  The  rebels'  main  works,  in  our  front,  were  only  about  40  rods 
beyond.  They  had  two  64  pound  seige  guns,  with  so  many  obstruc 
tions  in  their  front,  such  as  chev  aux  de  friz  trou  de  loups,  and  wires 
stretched  about  four  inches  high  to  trip  charging  troops,  and  posts  or 
palisades  in  the  hollow,  too  close  to  get  between  and  too  high  to  climb, 
over  which  they  could  fire  from  their  works  on  the  hill  beyond.  After 
we  had  this  line  of  works  completed,  the  General  ordered  up  a  32  Ib. 
Rodman  gun,  drawn  by  sixteen  yoke  of  oxen,  placed  it  at  the  left  of 


276  HISTORY  OF   THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

our  regiment,  the  7th  Iowa,  and  ordered  it  fired  every  five  minutes, 
night  and  day,  at  the  rebel  works,  or  at  the  troops  arriving  on  trains, 
or  about  the  depot,  which  was  in  plain  sight  about  a  mile  distant.  On 
the  right  of  our  brigade  he  placed  Co.  H,  1st  Mo.  Light  Artillery,  which 
had  two  10  pound  Parrots,  and  four  12  pound  brass  Napolean  guns.  We 
built  a  furnace  out  of  clay,  cut  wood  from  the  surrounding  timber,  and 
fired  red-hot  shot  from1  the  smooth-bore  guns,  and  solid  conical  shot 
from  the  rifled  Parrots,  and  laid  regular  siege  to  the  city.  Gen.  Dodge's 
profession  as  civil  engineer,  came  in  good  play  about  this  time;  he 
planned  and  ordered  built  advance  works  or  rifle  pits  in  front  of  our 
main  line,  with  ditches  extending  to  them  from  our  main  works, 
through  which  those  on  duty  could  pass  back  and  forth  without  much 
exposure  to  the  enemy's  sharpshooters,  and  it  was  in  this  skirmish  or 
rifle  pit  that  the  general  was  wounded.  The  pits  were  made  narrow 
and  long  enough  to  hold  a  company  of  men,  but  the  ranks  had  become  so 
depleted  from  the  causal  ies  of  war,  that  the  companies  were  not  half 
full,  and  in  our  regiment  there  was  not  an  average  of  one  commissioned 
officer  to  a  company,  so  that  usually  there  would  be  the  remnant  of 
two  companies  and  one  commissioned  officer  in  the  pits  at  one  time, 
bringing  the  details  in  the  pits  on  duty  every  3rd  or  4th  day. I  was  then  a 
first,  lieutenant  and  belonged  to  Co.  "B,"  but  that  day  I  had  command 
of  Co.  "I"  and  another  company  of  my  regiment,  Co.  "D,"  which  had 
no  commissioned  officer,  and  was  on  duty  in  the  skirmish  pits,  and  the 
general  crawled  through  the  ditch  followed  by  one  member  of  his  staff 
to  us.  I  told  him  to  be  careful  about  exposing  his  head  above  the 
works,  as  it  would  call  forth  a  volley  from  the  rebel  sharpshooters, 
and  to  prove  my  assertions  I  put  my  cap  on  a  bayonet,  stuck  it  above 
the  works,  and  at  once  there  was  at  least  a  dozen  shots  came  whizzing 
at  it.  The  General  talked  with  the  men  and  myself  about  the  proba 
bilities  of  getting  over  the  rebel  works  and  obstructions  in  front  in 
case  of  a  charge.  We  told  him  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  to  charge 
the  works  in  our  front,  and  to  more  thoroughly  convince  him,  I  in 
vited  him  to  the  left  of  the  pit,  where  we  had  a  peep  hole  through  the 
bank  to  look  and  shoot  through.  He  followed  me  to  it;  private  Cahill, 
Oo."I,"a  little  Irishman,  was  shooting  through  the  hole.  I  told  him  to 
step  to  one  side  and  let  Gen.  Dodge  look  through,and  he  did  so.  I  looked 
first  to  see  if  all  was  clear,  and  stepped  back  and  the  general  stepped 
in  my  front,  and  just  as  he  was  looking  through,  a  minnie  ball  came 
through  the  loop-hole  and  struck  the  general  in  the  forehead,  peeled 
a  ribbon  off  his  scalp  laying  his  skull  bare;  glanced  off  the  top  of  his 
head  and  went  through  the  top  of  his  black  slouch  hat  he  wore.  He 
fell  across  my  feet  pinning  me  fast  in  the  ditch;  he  quivered  and  bled, 
and  I  supposed  he  was  killed.  I  sent  two  men  to  the  rear  for  a  stretcher, 
and  the  men  released  me  and  we  watched  him  with  no  expectation  that 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  277 

he  would  ever  revive. After  the  general  was  taken  off  I  picked  up  a  piece 
of  his  scalp  with  the  hair  on  it,  and  after  the  war  brought  it  home  and 
kept  it  a  number  of  years.  The  look-out  hole  in  the  works  was  made 
by  splitting  a  piece  off  the  corner  of  an  empty  pine  cartridge  case,  V 
shaped,  laying  it  on  top  of  the  works  and  covering  it  with  dirt.  The 
bullet  struck  the  pine  board  and  glanced  to  the  general's  head,  which 
saved  his  life,  as  the  force  of  the  ball  was  partially  spent  when  it 
struck  him. 

I  have  a  very  vivid  recollection  of  all  the  circumstances,  and 
others  also  that  occurred  in  that  same  pit.  A  day  or  two  afterwards 
in  the  same  place  we  were  sitting  in  the  pit,  eating  our  supper,  wjien 
a  cannon  ball  took  the  head  off  a  sergeant,  Ben.  Thomas,,  Co.  "D," 
who  sat  beside  me ;  my  coat  was  covered  with  his  blood  and  the  tin  cup 
of  coffee  from  which  we  were  both  drinking  was  filled  with  his  brains. 
Another  time  a  shell  came  through  the  works  with  the  fuse  still  burn 
ing,  struck  a  soldier,  .Nick  Swenson,  bruising  his  knee,  and  with  the 
utmost  coolness  and  presence  of  mind  he  picked  it  up,  threw  it  back 
over  the  works,  when  immediately  it  burst  on  the  outside  doing  no 
damage.  Again  we  were  waiting  and  watching  our  colored  company 
cook  coming  out  with  a  camp-kettle  of  coffee  on  his  head,  when  the 
Rebel  batteries  suddenly  opened  on  us,  and  a  64  pounder  struck  near 
the  cook  and  he  disappeared  from  sight.  After  the  firing  had  ceased 
I  sent  a  detail  to  look  him  up  and  found  him  curled  up  in  the  hole  in 
the  ground  the  cannon  ball  had  made.  The  coffee  was  spilled,  and  he 
said  he  had  acted  on  the  principle  that  lightning  never  struck  twice 
in  the  same  place,  and  had  gone  in  the  hole  for  safety.  At  another 
time  a  soldier  was  sitting  writing  a  letter  home,  and  a  minnie  ball 
was  shot  through  the  letter  and  the  board  he  was  writing  on.  He  fin 
ished  his  epistle  with  the  utmost  coolness,  explaining  the  circumstances 
and  sent  it  home.  I  recollect  Gen.  Dodge's  headquarters  were  in  the 
edge  of  the  woods  in  rear  of  the  main  line,  supposed  to  be  so  far  away 
as  to  be  out  of  range  of  the  artillery,  and  the  rebels  opened  up  about 
supper  time  with  their  big  guns  and  the  shells  burst  so  near  that  it 
upset  the  supper  table  and  cut  short  their  repast.  After  a  heavy  rain 
the  pits  would  be  nearly  half  full  of  water,in  which  we  would  have  to 
stand  or  sit  until  dried  up;  and  in  the  fair  days  it  would  be  so  hot  we 
were  nearly  cooked.  They  were  so  close  to  the  Rebel  works  that  we 
had  no  trouble  in  talking  with  the  occupants,  and  frequently  did  so. 
if  we  said  anything  that-  displeased  them  they  usually  replied  with  a 
shot  or  volley. 

The  general  was  beloved  by  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  his  com 
mand.  We  had  full  confidence  in  him  as  a  commander,  and  he  always 
manifested  an  interest  in  our  welfare.  We  felt  as  though  we  had  lost 
our  best  friend  and  we  were  orphans  after  he  left.  Shortly  after  he 


278  HISTORY    OF_THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

left  us,  one  division  was  transferred  to  the  15th  Army  Corps,  and  the 
other  to  the  17th  and  Gen.  Dodge's  command  lost  their  identity  as  one  of 
the  grand  divisions  of  Sherman's  victorious  army. 

Very  truly  yours, 

H.  I.  SMITH, 
Ex-  Captain  7th  Iowa  Veteran  Infantry. 


YULETIDB  IN  THE  ARMY  FORTY  YEARS  AGO. 
(  From  Mason  City  Globe-Gazette.) 

After  a  service  of  two  and  a  half  years  on  the  fighting  line  in  the 
Civil  War  the  Seventh  Iowa  Infantry  with  General  Dodge's  command 
were  sent  to  Pulaski,  Tenn.,  to  rest  and  recruit  It  was  there  that  the 
regiment,  with  others,  veteranized;  those  who  volunteered  again  for 
another  three  years  were  given  a  thirty  days  furlough  home.  During 
the  interim  we  were  given  enough  duty  scouting,  raiding  and  guarding 
supply  and  ammunition  trains,  etc.,  to  work  out  our  muscle  and  keep 
us  out  of  mischief.  The  terminus  of  the  railroad  was  at  Columbia,  forty 
miles  over  the  Granny  White  Pike,  thence  to  Chattanooga,  the  front. 
Those  who  did  not  re-enlist  were  left  to  keep  open  the  cracker  line 
and  get  ready  for  the  Atlanta  campaign.  It  was  not  until  after  the 
holidays  that  we  were  mustered  and  ready  to  go  home. 

Christmas  tide  brings  memories  of  home  and  feasts.  In  the  spirit 
of  good  cheer,  our  mess  thought  we  would  celebrate  the  event;  as  we 
had  not  had  an  opportunity  before  since  we  first  enlisted,the"corporal" 
being  a  good  forager  and  provident  provider,  was  chosen  Chancellor 
of  the  mess  with  full  power  to  purchase  supplies,  secure  an  extra  chef, 
fix  up  the  menu  and  run  the  whole  push.  Being  a  native  of  the  Isle's, 
he  thought  an  English  plum  pudding  with  necessary  frills  would  be 
about  the  proper  thing,  so  proceeded  to  get  flour,  suet,  raisins,  currants, 
flavors  and  soft  bread.  For  chef  Sugar  Bill,  a  saffron  son  of  Senegambia 
was  chosen  (he  cooked  for  the  Colonels  horses).  He  claimed  to  be  a 
shurnuff  cook.  We  chopped  up  the  stuff,  tied  it  up  in  a  cloth  with  a 
string  and  put  it  in  the  camp  kettle  to  boil.  Somehow  it  did  not  work 
like  the  Loyal  baking  powder,  pictured  in  advertisements;  it  did  not 
lift  the  pot  lid,  or  strain  the  pudding  bag  like  mother's  used  to;  but 
seemed  sad,  dejected,  and  the  flavors  that  arose  were  disappointing. 
It  had  a  pungent  horse  medicine  smell.  Members  of  the  mess  dropped 
around  during  the  preparation  of  the  feast,  volunteering  cynical  re 
marks  more  or  less  exasperating.  Tim  Spence  said  the  shortening 
should  have  been  renovated.  Dave  Andrews  thought  if  salt-rising 
emptings  had  been  put  in,  it  would  have  been  light.  Sam  Folsom  said 
put  in  concentrated  lye  to  kill  the  oder  and  seidlitz  powders  to  make 


"SUGAR  BILL," 
Chancellor  of  Horse  to  General  Rice. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  279 

it  light.  Jim  Wilson  yelled  to  the  boys  to  come  and  listen  to  it  stink. 
This  of  course  was  somewhat  exasperating,  but  I  stood  pat  and  bided 
my  time.  We  boiled  it  three  hours,  but  like  hard  tack,  the  longer  it 
boiled  the  smaller  and  tougher  it  got.  We  had  been  on  half  rations, 
had  ravenous  appetites;  it  w.as  a  ground  hog  case — that  or  nothing,  so 
we  swallowed  it  down  with  wrath  and  commissary  sauce  flavored  with 
peppermint,  which  was  all  we  could  get.  At  retreat  the  feast  was  served. 
No  grace  was  said,  but  the  Corporal  quoted  from  Spokeshave,  "He  that 
hath  no  fight  for  this  feast  let  him  depart." 

In  those  days  we  were  young,  tough  and  hungry,  with  stomachs 
that  would  digest  a  grindstone.  We  smoked,  chewed  and  drank  to  take 
the  taste  out  of  our  mouth,  and  tried  to  work  it  off  with  a  stag  dance, 
but  it  was  no  use.  It  would  not  down.  Taps  sounded,  which  meant  to 
turn  in  and  keep  quiet.  We  rolled  up  in  our  blankets  and  laid  down 
and  tried  to.  There  was  "no  sleep  till  morn,"  joy  was  the  reverse  of 
unconfined.  Ordinarily  if  we  could  get  enough  to  eat  we  could  sleep 
like  babes,  or  with  the  calm  consciousness  of  a  Christian  (with  four 
aces.) 

The  muffled  conversation  in  the  dog  tents,  within  sound  was  about 
as  follows:  Lieut.  Folsom  said  he  could  taste  soap  and  kerosene.  Abe 
Talbot  said  his  distillery  was  working  sour  mash.  Curt.  Ford  thought 
he  could  taste  seven  brands  of  apple  jack.  Dave  Andrews  said  he  was 
going  to  get  up  and  get  some  deoderizer  to  neutralize  his  duodeum  and 
counter  effect  the  acid  juice  in  his  gastritus.  Bill  Akers  said  Andrews 
needed  a  counter  irritant,  hit  him  and  put  him  out  of  the  game.  A 
classical  cuss  in  Co.  "B"  recited:  "Our  stomach  roars,  it's  contents 
seek  for  flight  and  I  will  fling  it  up  in  the  clouds.  I  feel  as  though  I 
was  in  the  flame  and  it  in  me.  All  my  life  and  all  the  veins  of  it,  and 
all  the  days  of  it,  and  all  old  things  in  it,  far  away  things,"  right  here 
he  was  fatally  hurt  and  died  in  poignant  agony,  before  the  regimental 
soul  mender  could  be  got.  It  served  him  right.  His  assassin  was 
acquitted,  and  so  it  went.  The  sergeant  of  the  guard  came  around,  or 
dered  quiet,  saying  this  is  not  a  "hollerday"  season,  but  should  be  a 
time  of  peace  and  good  will.  Someone  crooned,  "Home  Sweet  Home,"  a 
shoe  shied  at  his  head  reminded  him  that  anything  softening  was  not 
according  to  camp  etiquette.  One  at  a  time  we  sneaked  out  to  the 
timber  line,  choking  and  gasping,  until  there  was  a  quartette  with  heads 
hanging  over  one  log  turning  ourselves  inside  out  and  giving  everything 
back.  The  captain  of  Co.  "G,"  a  most  devout  swearer,  was  officer  of 
the  day  that  night;  he  came  around  to  warn  us  to  keep  quiet  and  asked 
me  if  I  was  sick.  I  asked  him  if  he  thought  I  was  pukeing  for  fun.  He 
said  something  that  sounded  like  "Helen's  babies,"  don't  you  know  that 
it  is  after  taps  and  lights  are  out?  I  said,"Yes,and  I  am  on  tap, my  lights 
and  liver  are  both  out  and  I  am  retching  for  the  other  functions." 


280  HISTORY   OF  THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

with  coldness  he  said:  "Consider  yourself  under  arrest  and  report  at 
headquarters  in  the  morning."  I  told  him  I  would  be  glad  to  have  him 
arrest  this  business  now.  He  referred  me  to  the  doctor. 

After  running  through  the  whole  gamut  of  agony,  daylight  and 
the  end  came  and  I  crawled  back  to  my  pup  tent  to  try  and  rest. 

A  few  days  before  we  had  publicly  hung  one  of  the  Ninth  Illinois 
who  had  brutally  murdered  his  captain,  together  with  a  rebel  spy,  Sam 
Davis,  on  the  campus  of  the  school  grounds.  (See  page  105.) 

The  Ninth  Illinois  man  deserved  his  fate,  but  I  have  always 
thought  that  Davis  ought  not  to  have  been  hung,  although  there  was 
no  doubt  of  his  guilt.  To  somewhat  ease  my  conscience  and  atone  for 
my  small  part  in  the  affair,  about  ten  years  ago  I  contributed  towards 
building  his  monument  at  Nashville.  For  some  reason  my  letter  of 
transmittal  was  published  in  the  proceedings  at  the  dedication  of  the 
monument.  Extracts  from  the  letter  follow,  together  with  poem  of 
Trotwood,  the  latter  a  touching  tribute: 

Davis  had  minute  information,  facts  and  figures  of  number  of 
troops  and  where  stationed  upholstered  in  his  saddle  and  pegged  in 
his  boots,  that  he  could  not  have  got  anywhere  except  from  General 
Dodge's  staff.  The  general  offered  him  his  life,  liberty  and  escort  to 
the  enemy's  lines  if  he  would  tell  who  gave  the  information.  He  refus 
ed  to  do  so,  saying,  "if  he  had  a  thousand  lives  to  sacrifice,  he  would 
not  do  it."  He  died  game  with  his  secret.  We  could  endure  to  fight  if 
men  braved  to  stand  up,  shoot,  give  and  take,  but  such  ghastly  busi 
ness  as  tying  men's  hands  behind  them  and  doing  hangman's  duty  is 
not  to  the  taste  of  the  soldier.  The  gruesome  thoughts  hung  like  a  black 
shadow  over  us,  invoking  hideous  specters  enough  to  give  us  the  buck 
ing  nightmare,  so  that  we  did  not  need  indigestion  to  keep  us  awake. 
Night  wore  apace  and  the  gastronomic  contortions  continued  until 
morning,  when  four  of  us  lined  up  for  sick  call.  The  doctor  diagnosed 
our  cases  as  follows:  Ford  had  St.  Vitus  dance,  Wilson  water  brash, 
and  Talbot  appendicitis,  and  Doc  said  he  could  not  tell  whether  I  was 
love  sick  or  had  a  jaundiced  liver,  but  he  gave  us  all  tickets  to  the 
hospital  steward.  He  gave  us  each  a  calomel  pill,  about  as  big  as  a 
tumble  bug  ball  and  one-fourth  pound  of  Epsom  salts  for  a  finisher, 
and  ordered  us  to  report  again  in  the  morning.  We  lived  in  spite  of  the 
doctor. 

The  report  of  the  committee  who  examined  the  cook  shows  that 
he  claimed  he  put  in  two  cups  of  condition  powder,  as  he  was  not  fur 
nished  baking  powder,  and  he  thought  it  would  give  it  tone  and  color, 
but  that  he  unintentionally  put  in  too  much.  They  simply  kicked 
him  more  and  vigorously  than  usual  and  let  it  go  at  that.  After  the 
festivities  were  over,  as  soon  as  I  was  able,  I  went  around  to  see  the 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  281 

doctor  and  asked  him  why  having  guessed  me  different  from  the  rest, 
that  he  prescribed  the  same  for  me.  He  said  I  was  a  pathological  puz 
zle.  "Yes,"  I  said,  "but  what  makes  me  so  hoarse  all  the  time?"  "Oh," 
he  said,  "that's  easy — you  are  such  a  vociferous  liar."  So  I  cashed  in 
my  chips,  quit  the  game  and  have  not  prevaricated  since. 


WOMEN  OF  THE  WAR. 

I  cannot  close  this  book  without  rendering  to  the  women  of  the 
war  that  meed  of  praise  due  them,  for  their  patience,  endurance  and 
loyalty  to  the  cause  of  the  country  and  loved  ones  at  the  front  during 
the  long  struggle  for  the  life  of  the  Nation.  Because  of  their  modesty, 
their  share  of  the  work  has  not  been  credited,  and  their  experiences 
and  suffering  have  not  been  heralded  as  they  should;  it  is  due  them 
that  their  deeds  be  recorded,  so  that  future  generations  may  know  of 
their  loyal  sacrifices,  their  silent  endurance  and  lofty  patience. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  it  was  easier  for  the  men  to  endure  the 
hardships,  wounds,  death  and  service  at  the  front  in  the  hotly  contest 
ed  struggle,  especially  where  victory  resulted  and  the  paens  of  joy 
drowned  the  cries  of  the  wounded. 

The  resigned  and  tranquil  suffering  of  the  women  during  the 
war;  their  bereavements  and  anxious  waiting  and  working  during 
the  absence  of  their  kin  and  loved  ones  at  the  front  where  their  lov 
ing  hands  could  not  minister  to  their  suffering;  their  deeds  of  noble 
ness  in  the  country's  extremity. 

Their  work  in  the  Sanitary  Commision,  with  its  numerous  Aid 
Societies,  needed  by  the  emergencies  of  the  time.  The  letters  of  in 
spiration  and  encouragement  from  home;  the  heroism  and  unselfish 
ness  of  the  noble  army  of  women  at  home  and  nurses  in  field  and 
hospital  who  worked  untiringly  while  the  war  lasted,  "exerted  a 
greater  moral  force  on  the  nation  than  the  army  that  carried  muskets." 

Who  has  not  been  the  recipient  of  care  fro'm  Mother  Bickerdyke 
or  some  of  her  organized  corps  of  nurses  in  the  hospitals,  or  herself 
on  the  battlefield?  "With  lantern  in  hand  groping  in  the  dark  among 
the  dead.  Stooping  down  and  turning  their  cold  faces  toward  her, 
she  scrutinized  them  searchingly,  uneasy  lest  some  might  be  left  to 
die  uncared  for.  She  could  not  rest  while  she  thought  any  were  over 
looked  who  were  yet  living." 

"At  the  battle  of  Corinth,  on  the  second  day  of  the  fight,  Mother 
Bickerdyke  and  her  hospital  csme  within  range  of  the  enemy's  ar 
tillery,  and  the  fearful  missies  of  death  fell  with  fatal  precision 
among  the  helpless  men.  There  was  no  alternative  but  to  remove  them 
again.  Worn  out  with  the  heat  and  her  unparalleled  labors,  while 


282  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

shot  and  shell  and  grape  and  canister  were  dealing  death  around 
her,  she  bent  her  energies  to  this  unaccustomed  work.  They  were 
removed  to  a  beautiful  grove  within  the  range  of  the  hostile  guns, 
where  shot  and  shell  passed  harmlessly  over  them.  After  the  battle 
they  were  carried  back  to  their  hospitals." 

The  zeal  and  devotion  of  the  women  never  nagged. 

Men,  fired  with  enthusiasm  and  inspired  by  drums,  march  to 
the  cannon's  mouth.  But  for  women  to  send  forth  their  husbands, 
sons,  brothers  and  lovers  to  the  fearful  chances  of  battlefield,  know 
ing  the  risks  they  run,  involves  agony  and  suffering  calling  forth 
heroic  fortitude  not  required  in  prowess  or  fearlessness.  This  the 
women  did  throughout  the  country,  forcing  their  white  lips  to  utter 
a  cheerful  goodbye  when  their  hearts  were  nigh  breaking.  , 

They  were  willing  to  forego  pleasure,  endure  hardships,  take  the 
place  of  men  in  field,  counting  room,  or  shop.  They  retrenched  their 
expenditures  and  heeded  not  the  mandates  of  fashion;  their  patriotism 
arose  to  the  loftiest  height  of  devotion  and  they  were  ready  to  bear, 
or  to  suffer,  for  their  beloved  country,  even  in  the  country's  defeat 
and  in  the  face  of  the  news  of  the  death  of  their  loved  ones,  they  con 
tinued  to  give  the  government  their  faith,  and  patiently  prayed, 
worked  and  waited  in  anguish. 

Protestant  and  Catholic  vied  with  each  other  in  their  errands 
of  mercy  and  work  for  the  comfort  and  encouragement  of  the  men  in 
the  army.  Sisters  of  Charity  and  the  Red  Cross  Society  dropped  all 
questions  of  caste  or  conventionalism,  and  scraped  lint  and  rolled  ban 
dages  and  made  garments  for  the  hospitals  and  nursed  the  suffering 
wherever  needed  and  arose  to  the  height  of  every  emergency. 

Many  .died  from  exertion  and  overtaxed  strength  in  the  work 
they  performed  in  hospital  and  field.  A  noble  example  of  one  of  these 
was  one  Miss  M.  H.  Fales,  a  highly  cultured  lady  of  middle  age  who 
died  in  a  St.  Louis  hospital,  exhausted  by  over  work  as  a  nurse,  after 
giving  over  two  years  of  her  life  in  the  service.  A  beautiful  letter  to 
the  writer,  who  never  met  her,  follows,  showing  her  sweet 
nature  and  fervor  for  her  country.  Who  shall  say  she  was  not  as 
much  a  martyr  to  the  cause  as  though  she  gave  her  life  on  the  battle 
field.  Then  there  was  Doratha  Dix,  Mary  A.  Livermore,  Jane  C.  Hoge, 
Cordelia  Harvey,  and  Mary  J.  Safford,  and  a  host  of  others  who  sac- 
rifieced  health  and  comforts  for  the  cause.  Let  us  reward  them  all  due 
credit  and  praise.  , 

BREVET  WIDOWS  OF  WAR. 

I  can  remember  it  as  distinctly  as  if  it  all  happened  yesterday, 
though  I  was  only  a  child  of  eight  at  the  time;  indeed,  if  I  should  live 
to  be  eighty,  I  think  the  departure  of  the  soldiers  for  the  front  in  the 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  283 

summer  of  1861  must  ever  remain  among  my  most  vivid  recollections. 
Such  scenes  became  very  familiar  as  the  years  of  carnage  went  on, 
but  this  particular  occasion  impressed  me,  because  it  was  the  last  time 
I  ever  saw  my  father.  I  recall  him  as  a  tall  man  of  35,  looking  particu 
larly  handsome  in  his  blue  and  gold  lieutenants  uniform.  There  were 
tears  in  his  voice  as  he  kissed  me  good  bye,  and  when  he  held  my  young 
mother  and  my  baby  sister  in  his  arms,  with  his  bearded  face  between 
their's,  the  scene  swam  before  my  brimming  eyes,  and  my  lips  were 
hot  and  my  throat  so  lumpy  and  dry  that  I  could  not  cry  out  as  much 
as  I  wanted  to. 

And  there  was  Jennie  Somers,  my  mother's  pretty  young  cousin — I 
think  her  pretty  still,  though  the  sweet  face  has  pain  lines  in  it,  and  the 
wavy  brown  hair  has  changed  to  gray — Cousin  Jennie  was  engaged  to 
Frank  Edwards,  a  sergeant  in  father's  company,  and  I  remember  seeing 
the  two  with  their  hands  interlocked. while  cheering  troops  were  pouring 
into  the  cars  that  were  waiting  to  hurry  them  to  the  red  fields  of  death 
in  the  South. 

My  father  fell  before  Fort  Donaldson,  and  his  is  one  of  the  un 
known  and  unmarked  graves.  Frank  Edwards  succeeded  to  the  com 
mand,  and  he,  too,  died  with  the  cheers  of  his  men  ringing  in  his  ears 
from  the  captured  crests  of  Atlanta. 

From  the  hour  when  the  bullet  that  slew  my  father  flew  over 
rivers  and  hills  till  it  reached  our  home  in  Montgomery  county  and 
found  its  final  resting  place  in  my  mother's  heart,  she  wore  black  till 
a  year  ago,  when  she  changed  the  widow's  weeds  for  the  white  robes 
of  immortality.  And  Jennie  Somers,  she  is  single  still;  people  do  not 
speak  of  her  as  "the  widow  of  a  gallant  soldier,"  as  they  did  of  my 
mother,  yet  she  is  as  much  one  as  if  she  had  been  Frank  Edward's 
wife.  Only  a  few  weeks  ago  I  passed  her  window.  I  saw  her  looking 
at  the  picture  of  a  handsome  young  soldier,  and  I  raised  my  hat  without 
her  seeing  me,  for  I  knew  as  well  as  herself  the  change  that  would  have 
come  to  her  life  had  the  original  of  that  picture  lived. 

Years  and  years  ago  the  case  of  Jennie  Somers,  no  uncommon 
one  in  the  north  and  south,  set  me  a  thinking,  and  in  my  travels  I  was 
surprised  at  the  number  of  unmarried  women  of  her  age  that  I  met. 
These  are  the  women  who  would  have  married,  had  not  the  war  killed 
off  on  both  sides  about  five  hundred  thousand  single  men. 

Look  over  the  last  census  report  and  you  will  be  surprised  to  see 
that  the  number  of  unmarried  women  between  the  ages  of  forty-five  and 
fifty-five,  corresponds  very  nearly  to  the  number  of  unmarried  men 
who  fell  in  the  war.  These  women  were  either  engaged  to  the  men 
who  never  came  back,  or  in  the  usual  course  of  events  they  would 
have  been  engaged,  and  so  I  have  come  to  call  them — and  I  think  the 
name  a  good  one — "Brevet  War  Widows." 


284  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

Far  be  it  from  me  to  underestimate  the  valor  and  the  heoric 
suffering  of  the  American  soldier  in  that  long  and  bloody  contest,  but 
I  think  that  in  contemplating  what  was  done  and  endured  on  battle 
field  and  in  prison  pen  by  the  men,  we  are  apt  to  overlook  the  heroic 
patience  and  the  ceaseless  heart  torture  of  the  mothers,  the  wives, 
and  the  sweethearts  whose  dear  ones  had  gone  to  the  war,  and  of  the 
long  subsequent  suffering  of  the  widows — real  and  brevet. 

When  the  great  battle  was  over,  the  roll  call  accounted  for  the 
present  and  the  absent,  but  there  were  no  morning  and  evening  roll 
calls  for  the  women  of  the  land.  They  heard  of  fierce  battles  and  the 
dread  that  was  never  absent  deepened  into  a  feeling  of  horror.  They 
did  not  dare  to  read  the  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded,  fearing  that 
the  loved  name  would  meet  the  gaze.  They  feared  to  meet  the  neigh 
bors  who  had  read  the  papers,  lest  an  expression  of  sympathy  might 
reveal  the  dreaded  truth.  Oh,  the  horror  of  the  days  of  waiting  when 
every  mail  was  watched  and  relief  came  only  with  the  sight  of  the 
familiar  writing  of  the  dear  hand. 

And  then,  worse  than  the  direct  news  of  among  the  many  un- 
coffined  and  unknown,  or  what  was  equally  horrible,  he  might  be  a 
prisoner,  wounded  perhaps,  and  suffering  in  those  hells  of  agony,  a 
roofless,  foodless  prison  pen. 

No,  the  men  never  suffered  as  did  the  women,  for  a  wound  must 
cease  sometime  to  torture;  but  the  awful  anxiety  of  the  mothers,  wives 
and  sweethearts  had  no  cessation,  but  continued  till  the  worst  was 
learned,  or  relief  came  with  the  firing  of  the  last  gun. 

And  so  I  honor  in  my  heart  the  old  maids,  brevet  war  widows 
of  the  land.  Bach  one  suggests  to  me  a  gallant  soldier  dead,  each  one 
brings  vividly  to  mind  a  noble  sacrifice  made  without  ostentation,  and 
a  loveless  life  endured  without  complaint. 

HOWARD  S.  PENTON. 


The  correspondence,  of  which  the  following  letter  formed  a  part, 
was  brought  about  by  the  following  peculiar  coincidence:  In  the  winter 
of  1862,  one  of  Cerro  Gordo's  boys  in  the  war  was  returning  to  the  front 
after  being  home  on  a  wounded  furlough,  having  been  severely  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Belmont,  Nov.  7,  1861,  and  while  on  the  train  in  Illinois, 
a  sister  of  the  lady  who  wrote  the  letter  bought  an  orange  of  the  pea 
nut  boy  and  told  him  to  give  it  to  the  soldier  in  the  front  end  of  the 
car,  and  to  tell  him  she  was  the  mother  of  a  wounded  soldier.  The  party 
turned  around  in  his  seat,  bowed  thanks  to  the  giver,  and  nothing  was 
said  until  the  train  arrived  at  the  junction,  where  the  lady  was  to  get 
off,  and  as'  she  did  so  she  passed  by  the  soldier,  extended  her  hand  and 
said  she  always  wanted  to  shake  hands  with  every  soldier  she  saw.  She 


I 


.  , 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  285 

inquired  his  name  and  to  what  command  he, belonged,  and  the  answer 
developed  the  fact  that  her  son  belonged  to  the  same  company,  was 
wounded  in  the  same  battle,  and  both  were  in  the  hospital  together; 
and  in  the  hurried  talk  she  could  do  nothing  but  chide  herself  and  ex 
press  her  sorrow  at  having  ridden  in  the  same  car  nearly  all  day  with 
a  comrade  of  her  son  whom  she  had  not  seen  since  he  enlisted,  and 
not  finding  it  out  until  the  time  came  to  part.  She  went  to  Quincy, 
where  her  sister,  the  writer  of  the  letter,  lived,  and  related  the  circum 
stances.  Afterward  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  a  brother  of  the  party  to 
whom  the  letter  was  written  was  wounded  and  put  on  board  a  hospital 
steamer  and  died  on  his  way  to  Keokuk  hospital — was  put  off  and 
burfed  at  Quincy,  111.,  and  as  they  supposed  it  was  the  same  soldier 
they  met  on  the  cars,  they  took  so  much  interest  in  him  that  they 
fixed  up  the  grave,  planted  flowers  over  it  and  put  up  a  head  board, 
and  wrote  to  a  friend  in  the  company  the  particulars,  and  he  gave  the 
letter  to  the  party  to  whom  the  letter  is  addressed,  who  answered  it, 
and  the  letter  printed  is  in 'response.  She  was  a  maiden  lady  and  died 
before  tne  war  closed,  and  hence  they  never  had  the  pleasure  of  meet 
ing. 

AN    INCIDENT    OE   THE    WAR. 

Nearly  seven  years  have  elapsed  since  the  war.  Thrilling  tele 
grams  from  the  South  no  longer  come  to  startle  the  heart  with  dread 
fears;  to  cast  thousands  of  homes  into  deep  mourning  for  the  loved 
ones  who  have  gone  down;  to  electrify  with  the  glad  news  of  victory, 
or  to  cast  down  with  the  tidings  of  defeat.  We  are  at  peace,  and  only 
the  memory  of  those  days*  is  left  with  us.  But  in  how  many  homes 
are  treasured  as  the  last  souvenir  of  some  gallant  one  who  has  gone 
down  in  the  shock  of  battle,  or  given  up  his  life  in  the  dreary  hospital, 
a  sword,  a  musket,  a  faded  coat,  or  some  other  little  memento  of  the 
soldier  hero.  These  are  constantly  reminding  us  of  those  silent  sleepers 
in  the  National  Cemeteries  or  in  the  un-marked  graves  where  they 
have  fallen;  and  the  thoughts  of  the  soldiers  who  were  permitted  to 
return,  are  often  led  back  to  the  time  when  they  wore  the  blue.  A 
thousand  things  to  them  serve  to  keep  fresh  in  mind  the  incidents,  the 
scenes,  of  soldier  days1.  One  meets  his  comrades  on  the  street,  and 
they  stop  to  talk  over  old  times;  he  may  open  some  long  forgotten 
drawer,  he  will  find  a  package  of  letters  received  while  in  the  army, 
and  carefully  treasured.  What  a  romance  may  be  written  and  folded 
in  the  yellow  and  time  worn  coverings!  what  words  of  cheer  from 
friends  at  home,  and  from  loyal  hearts  who  felt  that  a  soldier,  though 
a  stranger,  was  near  and  dear  to  them.  They  have  not  lost  their  power 
to  bless,  to  make  the  heart  better  and  stronger,  even  now,  though  the 
writing  is  faded,  and  the  paper  yellow  and  musty  with  age. 

Many  a  gallant  soldier  knows  how  his  heart  grew  stronger  and 


286  HISTORY    OP   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

his  arm  was  nerved  to  the  contest  by  the  reception  of  such  letters  as 
we  have  spoken  of.  It  made  him  feel  that  there  were  those  who  cared 
for  him  in  the  north;  that 'all  loyal  hearts  were  looking  to  him — their 
prayers  were  for  him  and  their  benedictions  upon  him. 

While  in  our  office  the  other  day  Capt.  H.  I.  Smith,  a  gallant 
soldier  who  fought  his  way  up  from  the  ranks  in  the  7th  Iowa,  related 
to  us  the  incident  we  are  about  to  narrate,  which  we  give  in  his  own 
words  as  we  can  remember. 

On  his  return  from  a  wounded  furlough  to  his  regiment  in  the 
winter  of  1861-2  in  the  cars  of  the  Illinois  Central  R.  R.,  he  was  pre 
sented  with  an  orange  by  the  train  boy  who  told  him  that  the  orange 
had  been  paid  for  by  a  lady  in  the  forward  end  of  the  car,  who  told  him 
(the  boy)  to  tell  the  captain  that  she  was  the  mother  of  a  wounded 
soldier.  The  captain  bowed  his  thanks,  and  nothing  more  was  said 
until  the  cars  reached  the  Junction  where  the  lady  was  to  change  cars. 
As  she  passed  out  she  extended  her  hand  to  him,  remarking  that  she 
felt  a  deep  interest  in  all  soldiers,  especially  wounded  ones;  and  in 
the  course  of  the  conversation  it  was  discovered  that  her  son  was  a 
member  of  the  captain's  company — bmith  did  not  wear  the  bars  of  a 
captain,  it  must  be  remarked.  A  little  of  the  captain's  history  was 
given,  at  the  request  of  the  lady,  and  they  parted.  In  the  summer  of 
1862  the  captain's  brother,  who  was  with  him  in  the  same  company, 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  was  placed  on  a  Hospital 
boat  bound  for  one  of  the  northern  hospitals.  He  died  on  this  boat, 
and  was  buried  at  Quincy,  Illinois. 

A  sister  of  the  lady,  whom  the  Capt.  had  met  on  the  cars,  hap 
pened  to  be  in  the  hospital,  at  that  point,  taking  care  of  her  nephew 
who  was  sick  in  the  hospital,  and  one  day  while  wandering  thro'  the 
National  Cemetery  she  discovered  the  Capt.  brother's  grave.  Suppos 
ing  it  to  be  the  grave  of  the  Captain,  she  had  the  grave  fixed  up,  and 
planted  snow  drops,  and  flowers  upon  it.  She  then  wrote  to  one  of 
the  boys  of  the  Captain's  company  informing  him  of  what  she  had 
done.  The  young  man  who  received  the  letter  showed  it  to  the  cap 
tain,  who  replied  to  it,  giving  her,  as  she  had  manifested  such  a  deep 
interest  in  him,  his  family  as  well  as  his  military  history.  To  this  he 
received  the  following  reply: 

Quincy,  August  12,  1863. 

My  Dear  Friend. — I  thank  you  for  your  deeply  interesting  letter 
which  I  received  the  first  of  this  week.  I  appreciate  the  kind  feeling 
and  confidence  which  led  you  to  give  me  the  family  details,  which  it 
is  so  gratifying  for  me  to  know.  I  trust  that  you  will  still  further  oblige 
me  by  informing  me  of  your  mother's  residence,  and  by  writing  to  me 
from  time  to  time,  that  I  may  know  of  your  welfare,  until  I  shall  have 
the  privilege  to  greet  you  face  to  fa  e.  My  sister  and  myself  have  felt 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  287 

anxious  to  know  if  you  had  escaped  the  hazards  of  war.  It  will  give 
us  heartfelt  pleasure  to  give  you  the  welcome  of  a  son  or  nephew,  when 
you  are  able  to  return  hither.  I  am  anxious  that  you  should  not  feel 
like  a  stranger.  At  first  we  grieved  over  the  little  mound  in  our  ceme 
tery  as  being  your  resting  place,  for  we  did  not  know  you  ever  had  a 
brother  in  Co.  "B."  In  visiting  the  hospitals  we  always  inquired  if 
there  were  any  of  the  Iowa  7th  there.  My  sister's  heart  was  particularly 
drawn  towards  any  of  her  son's  comrades  who  were  suffering.  When 
you  met  her  on  the  cars  she  was  on  her  way  to  visit  me,  having  just 
become  a  widow. 

Very  soon  after  your  brother's  burial,  I  found  his  grave,  and  wrote 
to  my  nephew,  who  had  left  the  hospital  in  Mound  City  in  February. 
I  will  copy  part  of  his  reply:  "I  do  not  know  whether  there  is  any 
young  man  in  Co.  "B"  or  not  by  the  name  of  Peter  Smith.  I  recollect 
a  clever  young  fellow  by  the  name  of  Smith — probably  the  one  mother 
met  on  the  cars  when  on  her  way  to  Quincy.  I  can't  recall  the  surname 
of  this  youth.  He  was  a  young  man  singularly  amiable,  correct  in  his 
general  deportment,  and  one  who,  I  thought,  possessed  unusual,  though 
none  the  less  becoming,  simplicity.  He  was  fragile  and  sickly  when 
he  went  to  Belmont,  where  he  was  not  much  improved  by  the  wounds 
he  received.  I  can't  imagine  why.  he  should  be  taken  to  Quincy,  unless 
it  was  thought  he  would  there  be  best  cared  for.  Poor  fellow!  mur 
dered!  and  in  the  foulest  sense  of  the  word.  Traitors,  the  Recording 
Angel  has  put  that  down  on  the  debit  side  of  your  account.  You'll 
see  it  too  at  the  proper  time.  You  may  well  be  drawn  to  that  little 
mound.  I  should  think  the  very  grave-stones  would  weep  o'er  the  spots 
they  mark.  Grave-yards  grow  fat,  while  the  hearts  of  households  grow 
lean  and  starve!  I  once  expected  to  rest  in  some  humble  grave  myself. 
I  could  not  see  any  way  to  escape,  but'  one  was  taken  and  the  other  left.' 
I  was  left.  The  cot  on  my  left  I  saw  vacated,  time  and  time  again.  In 
the  sunlight  and  at  midnight,  the  tread  of  men  would  cease,  and  the 
creak  of  the  busy  stretcher  would  suddenly  pause  at  the  foot  of  my 
neighbor's  cot.  The  gleam  of  the  'lantern,  dimly  burning,'  would  re 
veal  but  for  a  moment  the  face  of  the  dead; again  the  creak  of  the  stret 
cher  was  heard,  momentary  shuffling  of  feet  followed  and  then  the  heavy 
tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  as  all  that  was  mortal  of  that  tender-hearted, 
meek-eyed  patriotic  boy  was  removed  to  the  dead  room.  Traitors, 
there  are  not  angels  enough  in  heaven  to  record  your  infamous  deeds. 
That's  right,  let  Charley  hear  from  you;  he  will  know  about  this  young 
Smith.  Can't  a  board,  if  nothing  more,  be  placed  at  the  head  of  his 
grave?  I  forgot;  I  recollect  there  is  a  slab.  I  did  not  know,  even  by 
name,  many  of  "the  boys"  of  Co.  "B."  I  was  with  them  but  a  week. 
One  of  these  times  I  shall  have  a  word  or  two  to  say  concerning  some 


288  HISTORY    OP   THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

of  the  boys  of  Co.  "B" — those  that  were  of  more  than  ordinary  inter 
est  in  regard  to  talents  and  in  other  respects." 

After  receiving  this  letter  from  my  nephew,  I  heard  from  Mr. 
Trot  (Charley)  that  it  was  your  brother  who  was  left  in  our  keeping,  and 
that  you  were  with  your  regiment,  although  you  had  not  been  well. 
We  knew  before  that  your  brother  was  left  in  Quincy,  because  he  died  on 
the  "City  of  Memphis,"  when  on  his  way  to  Keokuk.  He  was  buried 
on  the  18th  of  May,  1862,  my  cousin,  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery,  officiat 
ing  as  the  clergyman.  Four  others  were  buried  at  the  same  time — two 
of  them  from  the  same  boat,  Iowa  "boys,"  who  died  on  the  way  to 
their  own  state.  In  my  next  letter  I  will  give  you  the  names  of  these 
men,  for  it  may  be  interesting  for  your  mother  to  know  them.  Yester 
day  I  rode  out  to  the  cemetery  with  Mr.  Emery,  following  the  remains 
of  another  soldier — a  Tennessee  refugee — who  died  in  one  of  our  hos 
pitals,  where  my  cousin  acts  as  chaplain.  Mr.  Emery  prayed  at  the 
grave  most  feelingly  for  the  bereaved  friends  of  all  the  soldiers  who  lay 
there. 

I  read  your  letter  to  Mr.  Emery  in  the  morning,  and  he  mentioned 
your  brother's  name  during  the  services  at  the  hospital,  and  had  your 
mother  and  her  family  particularly  in  his  mind  when  praying.  Mr. 
Emery  is  the  pastor  of  one  of  our  Congregational  churches  in  Quincy, 
but  is  so  earnestly  interested  for  the  soldiers  that  he  has  been  appointed 
assistant  chaplain  to  the  hospitals  in  Quincy.  You  will  find  him 
a  most  cordial  friend.  His  son,  Frank  Emery,  was  formerly  in 
"Curtis'  Horse,"  but  that  body  of  cavalry  is  now  incorporated  in  the 
5th  Iowa  Cavalry.  He  is  with  Rosecrans,  but  if  you  ever  have  an  op 
portunity  I  hope  you  will  make  yourself  known  to  him  as  my  friend. 
Frank  is  about  your  age,  and  is  a  warm  hearted  boy,  whom  I  know 
you  will  like.  I  trust  he  is  a  Christian,  which  is  an  inexpressible  com 
fort,  now  that  he  is  exposed  to  so  much  danger. 

When  you  come  to  Quincy  you  must  enquire  for  me  without  de 
lay.  I  have  rooms  at  the  Quincy  House  (hotel)  and  the  proprietor,  Mr. 
Miller,  will  give  you  the  necessary  information  to  find  me.  You  must 
not  feel  that  you  come  hither  to  search  for  your  brother's  grave — his 
precious  dust  is  left  in  our  keeping,  and  we  will  watch  over  it  tenderly 
always.  My  mother  rests  very  near  him.  She  died  a  little  more  than 
two  years  before  this  unhappy  war  begun,  but  her  heart  would  have 
yearned  over  the  brave  defenders  of  the  co'intry  she  loved  with  the  in 
tense  devotion  of  "revolutionary  days" — she  was  born  in  1780.  Her 
only  son  died  last  September  in  the  service  of  his  country,  and  her 
grandsons  and  nephews  represent  her  zeal  in  the  army,  from  the  Po 
tomac  to  New  Mexico.  Give  our  earnest  sympathy  and  regards  to 
your  mother  and  sister.  I  cannot  express  to  you  our  gratification  that 
"wie)  can  be  of  any  comfort  to  her  in  her  sorrow.  If  it  will  be  any  satis- 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  289 

faction  to  you,  or  will  strengthen  you  when  about  to  encounter  peril 
in  the  presence  of  the  enemy,!  want  you  to  know  that  your  name  is  daily 
remembered  and  presented  to  the  God  of  battles,  that  he  would  "cover 
your  head"  in  the  midst  of  dangers,  and  bring  you  safely  to  comfort  your 
widowed  mother's  last  days,  if  it  be  His  will,  and  if  not,  that  you  may 
"rest  in  Jesus,"  redeemed  by  His  precious  blood,  whether  you  are  gath 
ered  to  your  last  sleep  on  the  field  of  battle,  or  in  any  unknown  grave. 
I  earnestly  hope  to  see  you,  thus  having  the  opportunity  to  know  you 
personally. 

I  hope  you  will  see  Mr.  Carnaby  whenever  it  is  convenient,  and  he 
can  give  me  tidings  of  you.  But  I  hope  you  will  write  yourself,  and 
keep  me  informed  of  your  movements.  Do  not  forget  to  give  me  your 
mother's  address  when  you  write.  My  sister  wishes  to  be  most  kindly 
remembered.  Direct  your  letter  as  you  did  before,  to  Quincy,  111. 

Truly  your  friend, 

M.  H.  FALES. 

Just  such  letters,  and  just  such  interest  as  this  did  more  to  make 
strong  the  hearts  of  the  men  who  fought  our  battles,  to  inspire  them 
to  great  deeds  and  heroic  endurance,  than  can  ever  be  told.  The  let 
ter,  as  we  have  said  of  others  above,  has  not  lost  its  interest  even 
though  the  war  has  long  been  over,  and  the  grave  of  the  gallant  soldier 
the  writer  cared  for,  and  those  of  thousands  of  others,  have  sunk  like 
the  waves  of  the  sea  from  the  sight  of  men.  To  the  Captain  the  letter 
is  all  the  more  precious,  now  that  the  writer  of  it  is  dead — is  resting 
from  her  labors  in  the  long  sleep  of  death. — Cerro  Gordo  Republican. 


A  WAR  STORY. 

The  generations  which  have  come  up  since  the  rebellion  will 
never  realize  what  the  vicissitudes  of  the  civil  war  brought  about  in  the 
division  of  not  only  a  people  which  it  caused,  but  which  also  extend 
ed  to  families  and  even  to  the  separation  of  brothers,  and  in  some 
cases  to  a  final  farewell  forever  of  husbands  and  wives;  nor  will  his 
tory  ever  record  all  the  sacrifices  some  made  for  loyalty;  actual  occur- 
ences  read  like  romances.  Colonel  Brutton  and  Captain  Smith,  both 
members  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  met  in  town  a  short  time  ago,  and  the 
Colonel  related  some  of  his  personal  experience. 

He  stated  he  was  born  and  raised  in  Lexington,  Kentucky,  and 
when  the  war  broke  out  he  was  the  happy  possessor  of  a  loving  wife 
and  two  interesting  children  and  was  a  lieutenant  of  the  Lexington 
Rifles,  a  local  crack  company  of  which  the  famous  General  Morgan 
was  the  captain. 

Early  in  1861, 'the  citizens  arranged  10  present  the  company  with 


290  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

a  flag,  a  large  gathering  of  the  people  of  the  town  and  country, with  dis 
tinguished  citizens  from  abroad  were  in  attendance.  Lieut.  Brutton  was 
selected  to  receive  the  colors  in  behalf  of  the  company  and  respond  in 
a  speech  of  thanks.  The  first  flag  presented  was  the  state  oclors  with 
the  Kentucky  coat  of  arms  as  the  emblem,  which  was  properly  and 
appropriately  received  by  Lieutenant  B-rutton  with  thanks.  The  next 
offered,  instead  of  being  the  stars  and  stripes  was  the  stars  and  bars, 
or  the  rebel  flag.  Lieutenant  Brutton  was  much  amazed  at  being  of 
fered  it  and  very  properly  refused  to  accept  it  in  behalf  of  the  com 
pany.  He  was  hissed  by  the  crowd  and  asked  to  resign  from  the  com 
pany,  which  he  promptly  did  and  his  resignation  was  as  promptly  ac 
cepted  there  and  then.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  a  young  man  who 
dared  to  express  his  loyal  convictions  before  a  vast  crowd  whose  sen 
timents  were  the  opposite,  had  the  stuff  in  him  for  a  brave  soldier,  and 
as  it  was  not  safe  for  anyone  holding  his  views  to  stay  there,  he,  as 
soon  as  possible  came  north  to  Cincinnatti  and  tendered  his  services 
on  the  side  of  the  Union,  was  accepted,  and  assigned  to  the  Sixth  Ohio 
Infantry.  And  he  went  to  the  front  to  wage  war  against  his  kinsmen, 
neighbors  and  friends,  winning  honors  and  promotion  for  bravery  and 
duty  until  he  was  the  comander  of  his  regiment. 

Years  rolled  on,  and  his  wife's  people  were  all  Confederates  and 
her  sympaties  were  with  the  south;  feeling  ran  so  high  that  she  re 
nounced  her  husband,  applied  for  and  was  granted  a  divorce  on  the 
grounds  of  desertion.  At  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  he  was  severely 
wounded  and  sent  to  Cincinnatti  hospital.  While  there  convalescent, 
General  Morgan  made  his  daring  and  reckless  raid  north  into  Ohio 
and  Indiana,  and  Colonel  Brutton  being  sufficiently  recovered  to  ride, 
was  invited  to  join  the  command  in  pursuit  of  Morgan  and  his  band 
of  fearless  riders,  which  he  did.  He  assisted  in  Morgan's  capture  and 
had  the  satisfaction  (being  among  those  to  whom  General  Morgan  sur 
rendered)  of  capturing  the  identical  flag  from  his  old  company  that 
he  refused  to  accept  in  1861;  and  when  he  exhibited  it  in  triumph  to 
General  Morgan,  then  a  prisoner  of  war,  the  general  remarked  that 
he  seemed  more  anxious  to  take  the  flag  than  he  did  when  offered  it 
at  Lexington  before  the  war. 

Colonel  Brutton  is  now  a  resident  of  Minnesota,  and  still  has  the 
flag  which  he  prizes  as  a  trophy  and  rare  relic  of  the  war.  He  never 
returned  to  Kentucky  or  his  first  love,  but  married  again  and  has  a 
happy,  interesting  family  and  is  a  prosperous  and  respected  citizen 
of  our  adjoining  state. 

After  the  war  he  was  commissioned  an  officer  in  the  regular 
army  and  with  others  sent  to  Europe  where  he  was  for  three  years  in  the 
government  service  and  upon  his  return  to  the  United  States  he  re 
signed  and  engaged  in  civil  pursuits.  He  is  an  entertaining,  intelli- 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  291 

gent,  hospitable  southern  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  but  loyal  to 
the  core;  and  is  reaping  the  reward  of  his  loyalty  by  a  generous  pen 
sion  awarded  him  by  a  grateful  government  for  his  crippled  condi 
tion  caused  by  honorable  wounds  while  in  defence  of  his  country,  as 
well  as  having  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  time  has  vindicated 
that  he  chose  right. — Globe-Gazette. 


RECOLLECTIONS    OP  THE    BATTLE    OF   SHILOH. 
By  a  Member  of  Company  "D." 

On  Easter  Sunday  morning,  April  6,  1862,  the  sun  rose  brightly 
over  the  forests  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Tenn.,  and  the  call  for  Sunday 
morning  inspection  brought  the  ten  companies  of  the  7th  Iowa  Infantry 
into  line  in  company  quarters,  where  they  stood  waiting  the  call  for 
forming  the  regiment  in  line.  At  this  time  ominous  distant  cannonad 
ing  was  heard,  and  soon  orders  came  to  be  ready  to  march  at  a  mom 
ent's  notice  with  forty  rounds  of  ammunition,  this  being  almost  In 
stantly  followed  to  make  it  eighty  rounds,  and  before  these  orders  were 
executed  the  order  to  march  followed. 

The  march  was  out  toward  the  front,  and  before  going  one  mile 
fleeing  soldiers  were  met  flying  toward  the  Tennessee  River,  saying  the 
woods  were  full  of  Rebels  and  everything  was  lost.  The  farther  we 
proceeded  toward  the  front  the  larger  was  the  number  of  panic- 
stricken  soldiers. 

To  go  back  to  the  beginning.  The  troops  from  Ft.  Donnelson 
and  Cairo,  which  latter  included  the  new  regiments  from  Indiana, 
Ohio  and  Wisconsin,  were  all  ordered  up  to  Pittsburg  Landing  on 
steamboats,  there  being  for  this  purpose  some  fifty  or  sixty  steam 
boats  provided,  which  were  loaded  with  troops.  The  7th  Iowa  was  go 
ing  there  from  Ft.  Donnelson.  They  landed  and  chose  a  camp  at  the 
right  of  the  road  near  the  top  of  the  hill  leading  up  from  the  landing. 
Other  troops  went  farther  out,  some  choosing  shady  ground,others  slop 
ing  ground  and  some  a  clearing,  but  all  apparently  naving  orders  to 
land  and  select  a  camp  ground  to  suit  themselves,  and  it  so  happened 
that  the  new  regiments  selected  positions  well  to  the  front  and  were, 
therefore,  the  first  to  receive  the  Rebel  attack  on  Easter  Sunday 
morning.  These  troops  being  raw  and  never  before  under  fire,  and 
being  attacked  so  early  in  the  morning,  became  confused  and  panic 
stricken. 

I  met  a  Rebel  officer  a  few  years  ago  who  was  on  the  staff  of  one 
of  the  generals  of  Johnson's  army,  and  he  said  he  was  ordered  to  go 
to  the  front  before  daylight  on  that  Easter  Sunday  morning  and  see 
what  he  could  find.  He  went  out  and  expected  to  find  a  picket  line, 


292  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

and  as  he  advanced  from  tree  to  tree  without  striking  any  pickets 
he  was  astonished,  but  kept  advancing  and  soon  discovered  the  camps 
of  the  Union  army.  And  standing  behind  a  tree  he  saw  the  quiet 
camp  in  this  early  morning  hour,  and  as  he  watched  a  few  soldiers 
here  and  there  came  out  of  the  tents — some  of  them  to  wash  them 
selves  and  others  to  get  a  fire  started  for  breakfast,  but  all  apparently 
unconscious  of  the  fact  that  a  hostile  army  was  within  two  miles  of 
their  camp.  This  officer  told  me  he  watched  the  scene  for  some  time 
and  then  hurriedly  left  to  report  to  his  general. 

The  result  was  an  attack  on  our  unprepared  troops,  followed  by 
the  flying  to  the  rear  of  the  men  we  met  as  we  advanced  to  the  front 
from  our  camp  near  the  river  bank. 

Notwithstanding  the  loud  and  repeated  assertions  that  certain 
death  awaited  us  if  we  went  out  to  the  front,  we  marched  steadily  for 
ward  and  soon  found  the  fighting  line  and  were  assigned  to  a  posi 
tion  along  with  the  Iowa  brigade,  commanded  by  Brigadier  General 
Tuttle,  the  7th  occupying  an  old  sunken  road  facing  a  small  field. 
We  could  see  the  Rebel  column  marching  to  our  left  along  a  road  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  field,  and  it  must  have  been  at  least  two 
hours  in  passing.  We  could  see  the  officers  riding  at  the  heads  of  the 
various  regiments  and  tne  guns  and  bayonets  glistening  in  the  morn 
ing  sun. 

The  attack  was  soon  begun  and  was  stubbornly  resisted.  The 
roar  of  the  musketry  would  go  rolling  along  the  line  and  the  sound 
could  be  followed  for  miles,  and  this  was  augmented  by  the  rapid 
firing  of  batteries  on  both  sides,  and  the  roar  of  war  was  awful  to 
hear  and  still  more  so  to  be  in  the  midst  of.  Repeated  attacks  were 
made  during  the  day  on  the  line  held  by  the  Iowa  brigade,  but  our 
position  was  so  good  and  the  troops  so  cool  and  experienced  that  no 
impression  was  made  on  our  line,  although  the  Rebel  dead  was  fairly 
piled  up  in  our  iront. 

This  position  was  afterwards  known  as  the  "Hornet's  Nest," 
being  so  named  in  the  Rebel  reports  of  the  battle. 

We  were  unconscious  of  what  was  going  on  to  our  right  or 
left,  except  the  conclusions  we  reached  by  listening  to  the  constant 
roar  of  battle,  and  that  the  roar  of  musketry  was  receding  toward  our 
rear  on  both  our  left  and  right. 

About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  General  Albert  Sidney 
Johnston,  the  Rebel  Commander  in  Chief,  came  to  our  front  and  or 
dered  a  charge  on  our  line,  telling  his  troops  that  the  lines  were 
broken  on  both  sides  and  this  position  must  be  carried  without  fur 
ther  delay,  and  when  told  of  the  repeated  failures  to  dislodge  our 
line  he  said,  "Form  your  columns  for  a  charge  and  I  will  lead  you 
to  death  or  victory."  This  was  received  with  cheers  and  as  the  col- 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  293 

umns  were  being  formed,  an  officer  who  was  mounted  near  General 
Johnston  noticed  he  was  very  pale,  and  glancing  down  at  his  high  top 
boots  noticed  blood  running  over  the  top  and  down.  He  asked, 
"General,  are  you  hurt?  Let  me  assist  you  to  dismount."  Just  then 
he  reeled  and  fell  heavily  to  the  ground  and  in  a  moment  was  dead. 
A  shot  from  our  line  had  struck  an  artery  in  his  thigh  and  he  bled 
to  death. 

All  was  instantly  confusion  in  the  Rebel  lines.  Orders  were 
sent  hurriedly  to  General  Beauregard  in  a  distant  part  of  the  line, 
and  in  the  interval  between  the  death  of  Johnston  and  the  assuming 
of  command  by  Beauregard,  a  precious  hour  was  lost. 

Our  line  fell  back  and  cut  its  way  through  the  curving  Rebel 
line,  which  had  almost  completed  the  circle  Behind  us,  and  we  reached 
a  position  near  our  camp  ground  just  at  dusk.  A  Rebel  cavalry 
column  appeared  in  our  front,  evidently  preparing  to  charge  our  thin 
line,  and  General  Grant  came  along  and  ihimself  directed  the  forma 
tion  of  our  line  four  deep  with  the  front  line  kneeling,  and  we  were 
ready  with  fixed  bayonets  to  receive  the  charge.  It  was  now  growing 
dark  and  the  Rebels  evidently  concluded  to  wait  for  morning,  and  the 
Rebel  cavalry  wheeled  to  the  rear  and  was  soon  lost  in  the  gathering 
darkness. 

All  night  long  the  heavy  artillery  and  howitzers  near  the  river 
kept  up  a  fire  of  shells  into  the  Rebel  camp,  and  at  midnight  Buell's 
Army  reached  the  north  bank  of  the  Tennessee  River  and  began  cross 
ing.  The  second  day's  battle  with  Buell's  fresh  troops  to  take  the 
lead  was  begun  with  the  break  of  aay,  and  by  nine  o'clock  the  Rebel 
army  was  in  full  retreat  and  the  Union  arms  were  again  victorious. 

In  this  dreadful  battle  fully  20,000  men  were  killed  and  dis 
abled  on  both  sides  out  of  a  total  of  125,00*0  engaged — about  60,000  in 
Johnston's  army,  40,000  in  Grant's  and  25,000  in  Buell's.  These  figures 
may  not  be  exact,  but  the  official  records  will  no  doubt  show  that  the 
proportion  of  each  is  approximately  correct. 

In  this  great  battle  General  Grant  learned  a  lesson  he.  never 
forgot.  He  had  put  raw  troops  in  camp  without  protecting  them  with 
earth  works.  These  works  could  have  been  erected  by  the  idle  sol 
diers  who  were  there  for  weeks  with  nothing  to  do.  Grant  never 
after  that  moved  his  army  a  mile  and  went  into  camp  over  night  in 
the  west  without  throwing  up  earth  works. 

Buell's  army  had  marched  from  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  to  join  Grant 
at  Pittsburg  Landing  for  the  purpose  of  a  forward  movement.  John 
ston  was  aware  of  this  and  he  determined  to  prevent  the  function  of 
the  two  armies,  and  by  whipping  them  in  detail  leave  the  road  to 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  open  tor  his  army.  What  prevented  this  disaster 
to  our  arms  from  being  carried  out?  Nothing  but  a  bullet  from  the 


294  HISTORY   OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

rifle  of  an  Iowa  boy.  The  hour  so  much  needed  by  the  Rebel  army, 
was  lost  in  the  change  of  commanders  incident  to  Johnston's 
death  (whose  plans  had  died  with  him),  meant  the  lives  of  thousands 
of  men  and  millions  of  money  and  pillage  which  would  have  been  lost 
if  Johnston's  army  had  invaded  the  North,  and  who  can  say  that  such 
an  invasion  into  the  heart  of  the  central  west  would  not  have  pro 
longed  the  war  for  years  and  possibly  have  resulted  in  a  final  victory 
for  the  South  and  the  establishing  of  the  Southern  Confederacy?  The 
tide  was  turned.  The  critical  moment  arrived  and  stopped  the  career 
of  the  skillful  general  who  was  carrying  out  his  plans  to  wipe  out 
Grant  and  then  with  his  victorious  hosts,  cross  the  Tennessee  River 
and  wipe  out  Buell. 

Who  this  Iowa  boy  was  will  never  be  known,  but  who  can  doubt 
he  was  an  humble  instrument  in  the  hands  of  God  to  remove  the  foul 
blot  of  human  slavery  from  this  land  of  Promise? 


COMPANY  "D,"  SEVENTH  IOWA. 

This  company  was  organized  at  Port  Madison,  Iowa,  in  April, 
1861,  and  the  first  officers  were  Captain  J.  P.  Harper,  First  Lieutenant 
J.  B.  Sample,  Second  Lieutenant  D.  T.  Bowler. 

When  the  company  joined  the  Seventh  Iowa  Infantry  at  Bur 
lington  Bowler  was  chosen  adjutant  of  the  regiment,  and  Ben  B.  Gale 
made  2nd  Lieutenant  of  Co.  "D."  The  ranks  were  not  quite  filled, 
so  Capt.  Harper  enlisted  seven  or  eight  "river  rats"  at  Burlington  to 
complete  the  quota  of  the  company,  so  we  could  be  mustered  in. 
These  toughs  were  ever  after  a  source  of  trouble  but  were  finally  dis 
posed  of  in  vorious  ways,  two  being  "drummed  out."  The  most  of  the 
company  who  enlisted  at  Ft.  Madison  were  mere  boys,  and  Capt. 
Harper  had  personally  vouched  for  their  proper  looking  after  to  their 
fond  mothers,  who  with  streaming  eyes  saw  their  boys  march  away. 
We  went  from  Burlington  to  St.  Louis  on  the  steamer  Jennie  Whip- 
pie.  These  good  mothers  and  sweethearts  had  prepared  a  great  feast 
at  Ft.  Madison,  expecting  the  boat  to  stop,  and  when  she  sailed  rapidly 
by  without  stopping  the  weeping  mothers  and  gushing  sweethearts 
gathered  up  the  untouched  feast  of  good  things  and  made  a  donation 
to  the  poor  and  needy.  It  has  ever  since  been  a  source  of  regret  to  the 
surviving  members  of  Co.  "D"  that  they  and  their  comrades  never 
got  to  digest  that  dinner. 

In  due  time  arrived  in  St.  Louis  and  went  into  camp  at  the 
Arsenal.  This  was  where  Joe  Morrison  got  his  old  pistol  repaired  by 
the  U.  S.  government.  The  march  down  through  Missouri  to  Ironton 
and  the  various  points  in  the  deep  woods  to  Cape  Girardeau  was  livened 
by  many  incidents  and  funny  experiences.  The  natives  were  of  the 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  295 

"poor  white  trash"  style,  and  the  honey  in  the  bee  trees  tasted  as 
sweet  as  such  things  usually  do  when  worked  hard  for. 

At  Birds  Point  we  had  a  tough  time,  and  the  daily  and  some 
times  hourly  funerals  cast  a  gloom  over  the  camp,  and  the  result  was 
that  when  a  soldier  got  into  the  hospital  the  chances  were  that  in 
a  few  days  there  would  be  a  funeral,  and  the  strains  of  the  funeral 
march,  "Poor  Old  Soldier,  Poor  Old  Soldier,  Rattle  his  bones,  over  the 
stone,  Poor  Old  Soldier,"  would  be  heard.  The  boys  lived  on  batter 
cakes  fried  in  grease,  and  added  to  this  the  low  malarial  location, 
easily  accounted  for  the  mortality.  Cairo  was  across  the  river,  and 
was  a  good  place  to  go  to  get  your  leg  pulled  in  some  den  of  iniquity. 

The  battle  of  Belmont  was  fougnt  with  Co.  "D"  in  the  thick  of 
it,  and  five  of  our  best  boys  were  killed  and  about  twenty  more  wound 
ed  and  missing.  Here  Lieut.  J.  B.  Sample  captured  the  rebel  flag, 
and  Li-  ut.  Gale  was  cut  over  the  head  with  a  Rebel  sabre,  and  left 
for  dead  on  the  field.  In  fact  Ben  thought  he  actually  was  dead, 
and  when  he  came  to  he  didn't  know  which  world  he  was  in.  His 
first  discovery  was  the  dead  body  of  the  officer  who  struck  him,  lying 
close  by,  whom  Sergt.  Sapp,  of  Co.  "E,"  bad  killed.  Sergt.  Morrison 
had  also  shot  another  Rebel,  who  jumped  about  three  feet  off  the  ground 
and  fell  dead.  These  were  isolated  cases;  the  rebel  line  in  our  front 
got  the  medicine  good  and  straight,  as  their  piles  of  dead  and  wound 
ed  easily  testified.  Jule  Coriel  was  wounded  amongst  many  others, 
and  Sergt.  Morrison  stayed  with  him  on  the  boat  until  it  reached 
Mound  City  and  saw  him  safely  in  the  Hospital  under  the  care  of  the 
good  Sisters.  During  that  terrible  night  trip  on  the  boat  many  of 
the  wounded  died. 

The  return  to  St.  Louis  to  recuperate — the  embarkation  from  St. 
Louis  with  every  man  (who  would  take  it)  provided  with  a  bottle  by 
some  would-be  generous  citizen  of  St.  Louis,  will  be  remembered  by  all 
the  boys.  The  freezing  up  in  the  river  and  return  to  St.  Louis  in 
a  half  frozen  condition  on  open  cars — the  crossing  of  the  river  to 
East  St.  Louis,  and  long  hours  of  hard  work  with  the  camp  equipage 
was  a  chapter  in  the  soldier's  life  that  no  one  liked  or  would  ever 
care  to  have  repeated.  Co.  "D"  was  among  the  first  into  Port  Henry 
on  the  Tennessee  River  when  it  was  captured,  and  at  Fort  Donnelson 
Co.  "D"  started  up  the  hill  with  the  rest  of  the  regiment  in  support  of 
the  Second  Iowa  Infantry,  and  were  all  day  under  fire,  and  at  night 
when  the  Rebel  line  at  the  crest  of  the  hill  was  captured,  there  were 
only  seven  or  eight  men  left  on  duty  under  charge  of  Sergt.  Morrison, 
all  of  the  officers  and  most  of  the  men  being  killed,  wounded  or  miss 
ing.  After  the  Rebels  surrendered  and  we  marched  in,  we  found  an 
other  army  more  numerous  than  the  one  we  had  captured,  which  soon 
captured  us,  the  "  gray  backs."  They  were  literally  everywhere 


296  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

we  went  and  soon  covered  the  men.  Body  lice  were  a  common  thing 
amongst  the  Rebel  soldiers,  but  our  boys  couldn't  get  reconciled  to  such 
companions,  and  you  could  see  them  around  the  outskirts  of  camp  with 
their  clothes  off,  sitting  patiently  picking  the  varmints  out  of  the  seams 
of  their  pants  and  blouses  and  putting  them  to  death. 

After  Donnelson  came  Pittsburg  Landing,  where  Charley  Oatman 
won  so  much  money  with  his  elegant  cards,  and  where  the  "johnnies" 
came  in  to  visit  us  daily  disguised  as  farmers,  peddling  sole  leather 
pies  made  of  dried  apples.  Co.  "D"  was  with  the  regiment  in  the 
"Hornet's  Nest"  line  and  every  man  did  his  duty.  While  at  Shiloh, 
Henry  Rogers  and  Foster  Walker  joined  the  company  again.  They 
had  been  captured  at  Belmont,  and  after  great  suffering  finally  dug  a 
tunnel  out  of  the  prison  pen  at  Tuscaloosa,  Ala.,  and  with  others 
escaped.  Hank  Rogers  was  a  man  of  great  ingenuity  and  determina 
tion,  and  was  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  this  enterprise  and  took 
his  friend  Walker  along.  Rogers  now  lives  at  Kansas  City,  Kans. 

By  the  way,  Walker  was  appointed  to  write  up  this  history  and 
accepted  the  task,  but  for  some  unknown  reason  he  refused  to  carry 
out  the  deal.  He  was  supposed  to  have  a  large  fund  of  information 
which  was  very  necessary, but  has  not  furnished  it.  This  imperfect  sketch 
is  written  by  another  at  the  last  moment,  and  being  from  memory 
must  necessarily  be  very  imperfect,  and  does  not  do  justice  to  the 
gallant  boys  of  Co.  "D." 

After  Shiloh  came  Corinth,  and  at  that  desperate  battle  Addi- 
son  Leavett  fired  his  gun  so  close  to  Bill  Berry's  ear  that  the  ear 
drum  was  split,  and  to  this  day  you  have  got  to  get  on  the  "other 
side"  of  Bill  and  yell  to  make  him  hear  if  you  are  asking  him  for 
money,  but  when  Maj.  Mahon  entertained  the  boys  at  his  elegant 
home  in  Ottumwa  last  summer  I  noticed  when  the  young  lady  asked 
Bill  in  a  low  voice  if  he  wanted  another  dish  of  ice  cream,  he  an 
swered  yes  before  the  words  were  hardly  out  of  her  mouth.  By  the 
way,  Bill  is  now  62  and  looks  and  acts  like  a  boy.  He  got  a  pension 
all  right  for  the  ear  drum,  and  I  helped  him  get  it  too.  This  reminds 
me  about  Frank  Redding — commonly  known  as  "Flop  Eye."  Frank 
was  one  of  the  best  soldiers  in  Co.  "D"  or  any  other  company  for 
that  matter.  He  was  always  ready  for  duty  whether  it  was  his  turn 
or  not,  and  didn't  know  fear.  After  the  war  Frank  got  married,  and 
in  the  course  of  time  he  developed  a  family  of  nine  children,  which 
with  his  faithful  wife  were  his  principal  assets.  I  tried  to  get  Frank 
to  apply  for  a  pension,  but  he  said,  "No,  I  got  all  the  government 
ever  agreed  to  give  me  and  even  more,  for  I  started  in  at  $11.00  a 
month  and  they  raised  me  to  $13.00."  Frank  had  been  shot  in  the  liver 
and  the  ball  lodged,  making  a  wound  almost  exactly  like  President 
Garfield's,  but  Frank  was  young  and  he  lived  many  years  and  wouldn't 


I 

I 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  297 

have  a  pension,  although  I  offered  to  help  him.  One  day  in  a  coughing 
fit  the  ball  which  had  become  incisted  in  his  liver,  broke  loose,  and 
coming  up  in  his  throat  (with  a  part  of  his  liver)  choked  him  to 
death.  I  then  took  up  the  matter  with  Senator  Gear,  and  it  wasn't 
long  until  the  government  "coughed  up"  a  pension  with  back  pay 
amounting  to  $1800.00,  and  as  worthily  bestowed  as  any  pension  ever 
was. 

The  battle  at  Corinth  on  Oct.  3rd  and  4th,  1862,  was  desperately 
fought  by  the  half  starved  and  half  drunk  Rebels,  but  the  Northern  boys 
were  bound  to  hang  on  to  what  they  had.  Geo..  Rollett  here  killed 
a  Rebel  color  bearer  and  captured  his  flag.  George  was  true  blue;  he 
didn't  say  much  but  was  generally  found  "sawing  wood."  He  still 
lives  in  Fort  Madison,  highly  respected  by  the  community. 

In  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  when  the  Rebels  were  charging  our 
line,  some  Rebel  shot  off  his  gun  and  the  bullet  found  the  shin  bone 
of  Lieut.  Morrison.  The  lieutenant  thought  his  entire  foot  and  leg 
was  gone,  and  immediately  began  dancing  a  horn  pipe,  but  discov 
ered  the  leg  and  foot  still  there  and  that  only  the  thin  skin  was 
taken  from  over  the  shin  bone,  but  the  sock  and  pants  were  badly 
wounded.  After  this  the  lieutenant  was  madder  than  ever  at  the 
Rebels  and  assisted  in  reforming  our  line;  the  Rebel  advance  had 
spent  itself  and  we  turned  the  tide  and  drove  them  back  again. 

At  this  time  Lieut.  Morrison  saw  a  wounded  Rebel  who  could 
b&ulely  raised  his  hand,  and  stooping  low  to  see  what  he  wanted  he 
whispered  "water,"  which  was  given,  and  the  poor  man  with  a  look  of 
thankfulness  in  his  eye  fell  over  and  died.  The  lieutenant  saw  a  loaded 
rifle  lying  on  the  ground  and  picked  it  up,  and  was  just  then  met  by 
Genl.  Rosencrans  who  told  him  not  to  bother  with  the  gun  but  help 
rush  up  the  men; but  when  he  explained  that  it  was  only  picked  up  to  fire 
its  contents  at  the  fleeing  foe  the  general  said  all  right. 

After  Corinth  came  luka,  where  Co.  "D"  was  detailed  to  search 
every  house  in  the  town,  hoping  to  catch  a  spy  which  had  escaped 
during  the  night  from  Genl.  Sweeney's  headquarters. 

At  Pulaski,  Tenn.,  we  had  a  comfortable  rest  and  got  acquainted 
with  all  the  girls. 

At  Pulaski  Co.  "D,"  along  with  the  Seventh  regiment,  veteranized 
— that  is,  agreed  to  re-enlist,  and  here  gallant  Lieut.  Dave  Hamilton 
led  the  boys  in  re-enlisting  as  he  had  in  battle. 

When  the  company  reached  Fort  Madison  the  citizens  received 
them  with  open  arms  (I  mean  the  girls  did)  and  as  happy  a  thirty 
days  as  ever  happened  was  enjoyed  with  round  after  round  of  enter 
tainment. 

Among  the  recruits  were  Geo.  Smith  and  Dennis  A.  Morrison, 
now  honored  citizens  of  Ft.  Madison.  Morrison  had  the  misfortune 


298  HISTORY    OP    THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

to  have  his  thumb  in  line  with  a  bullet  and  he  has  done  without  a 
thumb  on  his  right  hand  ever  since.  This  incapacitated  him  for  ser 
vice  in  the  comapny  and  he  was  made  quarter  master  sergeant  and  af 
terwards  acting  quarter  master  of  the  Seventh  Iowa  until  the  end  of 
the  war. 

Of  the  march  to  Atlanta  and  numerous  battles  of  that  summer 
of  1864  a  volume  could  be  written.  Co.  "D"  was  always  there.  In  the 
meantime  Ben.  Gale  had  become  Captain.  J.  B.  Morrison  First  Lieu 
tenant,  and  Dave  Hamilton  Second  Lieutenant.  Jim  Sample  had  been 
promoted  to  staff  duty  on  General  Mower's  staff,  and  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  major.  Capt.  Gale  was  wounded  again  and  ordered 
home.  He  resigned  and  Lieut.  Morrison  was  commissioned  captain, 
but  declined  to  be  mustered  in,  and  Dave  Hamilton  was  then  promoted 
and  served  as  captain  and  Serg.  Maynard  was  made  2d  Lieut.  Capt. Harper 
had  left  the  company  after  Belmont  and  was  on  detached  duty.  Lieut. 
Morrison  had  been  assigned  to  staff  duty  with  Gen.  E.  W.  Rice  and 
preferred  such  duty  to  again  joinng  the  company  and  didn't  wish  to 
deprive  the  company  of  a  captain.  He  remained  with  Genl.  Rice  un 
til  after  Atlanta  was  captured  and  then  resigned  and  returned  home. 
He  was  offered  the  position  of  Asst.  Adjutant  General  with  Genl.  Rice 
and  also  a  commission  as  Lieut.  Colonel  of  a  colored  regiment  but  de 
clined,  and  was  afterwards  by  act  of  Congress  commissioned  Lieut. 
Colonel  of  Volunteers.  During  the  Atlanta  campaign  many  oppor 
tunities  were  offered  for  personal  bravery  and  the  constant  duty  al 
most  day  and  night  was  very  trying  on  the  soldiers. 

Before  Atlanta  a  double  bullet  was  picked  up  by  Lieut.  Morri 
son,  showing  that  a  Rebel  and  Union  bullet  had  met  in  the  air  and 
melted  together.  After  Atlanta  fell  the  march  to  the  sea.  Then  the 
victorious  march  up  Pennsylvania  Ave.  in  Washington  and  the  boys 
returned  home  to  lay  aside  the  weapons  of  war  and  take  up  the  pur 
suits  of  peace. 

Tom  Cunningham,  who  was  nicknamed  "nail  keg,"  has  developed 
into  sort  of  a  doctor.  About  twenty  years  ago  he  fell  in  with  a  travel 
ing  quack  in  Texas  who  gave  Tom  some  lessons,  so  he  is  now  known 
as  "Dr.  Cunningham."  I  think  he  travels  mostly  in  the  south.  They 
had  a  sort  of  tube  which  could  be  put  against  the  naked  side  of  a 
person,  and  inside  the  tube  was  the  fac-simile  of  an  old  dried-up 
diseased  lung,  and  by  an  arrangement  of  the  light  this  would  appear 
to  be  the  regular  lung  inside  the  person.  This  discovery  of  the  terri 
ble  condition  of  the  lung  would  alarm  the  family  so  $3  could  easily 
be  gotten  for  a  bottle  of  "colored  water."  Tom  told  me  the  people 
loved  to  be  humbugged  and  he  might  as  well  do  it  as  somebody  else. 

Luman  VanHoosen  is  a  prosperous  farmer  in  Nebraska.  Calvin 
Cowles  is  there  too.  Trank  Vail  and  Billy  Griffith  live  in  Kansas. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  299 

The  latter  has  a  fine  family  and  lives  in  good  shape  on  his  broad  acres, 
and  is  spending  the  evening  of  his  days  in  peace  and  plenty.  Hiram  In- 
gersoll  lives  near  Nauvoo,  111.,  on  a  fine  farm  of  his  own.  Isaac  Brown 
and  Andy  Summerville  live  at  Oskaloosa,  la.  Geo.  Martin  at  Liberty- 
ville,  la.,  and  Jack  and  Henry  Pickard  live  at  Cotton  wood,  Lee  county, 
la.  Jno.  Schiller  lives  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.  Lieut.  Maynard  lives  on 
his  beautiful  farm  in  Hancock  Co.,  111.,  and  takes  the  world  easy  as  he 
deserves  to.  Win.  Berry  lives  in  Burlington,  la.,  where  he  has  a  host  of 
friends  and  wants  all  the  boys  to  be  sure  and  come  and  see  him  and 
stay  a  week.  Charley  Oatman  lives  in  Denver,  and  keeps  a  cigar  store. 
Capt.  Dave  Hamilton  lives  in  Chicago,  where  he  has  prospered  and 
loves  to  talk  over  the  old  campaigns  and  meet  the  Co.  "D"  boys  to 
fight  over  again  the  old  battles.  Jim  Stevens  lives  in  California,  or  did 
at  last  accounts.  Bill  Blair  and  Bill  Young  also  live  there.  The  two 
Bills  are  preachers  now.  Never  heard  either  one  preach,  but  suppose 
they  are  doing  their  level  best.  Wm.  H.  Powell  is  an  engineer  on  the 
C.,  B.  &  Q.  road  between  St.  Louis  andKeokuk  and  is  doing  well. 

There  are  others  of  Co.  "D"  still  alive  I  think,  but  I  don't  know 
where  they  live.  Several  I  have  mentioned  I  don't  know  much  about. 
We  show  a  picture  of  Co.  "D"  as  they  appeared  at  the  prize  drill  in 
Corinth,  Miss.,  and  where  they  captured  the  first  prize.  It  is  a  long 
time  to  remember  accurately  and  the  boys  must  overlook  mistakes  and 
errors.  There  is  one  thing  sure,  Co.  "D"  was  always  on  hand  for  a 
skirmish,  a  night  march,  a  sweet  potato  patch,  a  barn  yard,  or  a  battle. 
The  company  had  four  sets  of  officers  during  the  four  years  of  service, 
and  of  the  total  number  enrolled  (about  108)  she  lost  in  killed,  wounded 
and  missing  over  90  men,  and  participated  in  about  29  battles. 


PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GEN.  E.  W.  RICE. 

Elliott  W.  Rice  enlisted  in  Company  "C,"  Seventh  Iowa,  and  was 
made  sergeant  of  the  company.  He  was  a  young  lawyer  of  good  family 
and  fine  prospects  in  his  profession,  but  quit  all  to  enter  the  service 
of  his  country.  His  home  influence  secured  him  the  appointment  of 
major  of  the  regiment  after  he  entered  the  service,  and  after  the  pro 
motion  of  Colonel  Lauman  to  brigadier  general,  Rice  was  promoted  to 
colonel.  He  made  a  fine  officer — constantly  on  the  alert  for  the  com 
fort  of  his  men  and  on  the  field  of  battle  he  was  a  host  in  himself 
and'  a  man  of  fine  physique.  He  was  constantly  on  duty  and  in  the 
many  battles  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  was  the  bravest  of  the 
brave. 

When  he  entered  the  service  he  was  an  admirer  of  Miss  Mollie 


300  HISTORY    OF   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

Harlan,  the  daughter  of  U.  S.  Senator  Harlan  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa. 
Mr.  Harlan  entered  the  cabinet  of  President  Lincoln  and  naturally 
watched  the  career  of  young  Rice  and  hearing  so  much  in  his  favor 
he  told  Mr.  Lincoln  of  it  and  requested  a  commission  for  him  as 
brigadier  general.  Mr.  Lincoln  entertained  the  request  favorably  and 
one  day  when  Harlan  again  mentioned  it,  he  picked  up  a  piece  of  paper 
and  wrote  a  note  to  Secretary  Stanton  to  "appoint  Colonel  Rice  of 
Iowa,  brigadier  general."  Stanton  received  the  note  and  a  few  days 
later  took  the  matter  up  and  asked  a  clerk  to  look  at  the  Iowa  roster 
and  get  the  initials  of  Colonel  Rice.  The  clerk  found  the  name  of 
Colonel  Samuel  A.  Rice,  who  was  colonel  of  the  Thirty-third  Iowa, 
and  a  brother  of  E.  W.  Rice. 

Very  much  to  the  surprise  of  Colonel  E.  W.  Rice,  the  commission 
promised  didn't  come,  and  after  a  month  or  so  he  received  a  letter 
from  Samuel  A.  Rice  saying  that  very  much  to  his  surprise  he  had 
received  a  commission  as  Brigadier  General,  and  upon  investigation 
the  mistake  was  discovered.  Whereupon,  E.  W.  Rice  refused  to  have 
it  changed  and  S.  A.  Rice  was  mustered  on  the  commission.  It  was 
finally  decided,  as  both  were  deserving,  that  both  should  be  promoted, 
and  our  colonel  received  his  commission  as  brigadier  general  about 
a  year  afterwards. 

Colonel  Rice  at  one  time  was  in  command  at  Bethel,  Tenn., 
this  being  an  outpost  from  Corinth,  Miss.,  on  the  railroad.  A  good 
amount  of  cotton  was  hid  in  the  vicinity  and  some  of  the  citizens 
proposed  to  Colonel  Rice  that  if  he  would  assist  them  in  getting  it 
shipped  into  Memphis  they  would  divide  the  proceeds  equally  with  him. 
As  there  was  a  large  amount  of  the  cotton,  Rice's  share  would  have 
amounted  to  many  thousands  of  dollars.  He  told  them,  "No,  sir;  I 
am  in  the  service  of  my  country  and  not  here  to  speculate.  Where 
is  your  cotton?"  They  told  him  to  save  arrest,  and  the  entire  lot  of 
several  carloads  was  brought  in  and  confiscated  for  the  government. 

Prior  to  his  commission  as  brigadier  general  and  afterwards 
also,  lie  was  in  command  of  the  First  Brigade,  Second  Division,  16th 
Army  Corps.  This  brigade  consisted  of  the  2nd  and  7th  Iowa,  52nd 
Illinois  and  66th  Indiana  Inf.  and  Welker's  Battery. 

When  Sherman's  Army  reached  the  Oostanaula  River  on  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  it  was  found  impossible  to  dislodge  the  Rebel  army, 
and  as  the  river  was  guarded  for  many  miles  up  and  down  stream 
and  fortified  by  earthworks  on  the  south  bank,  General  Sherman  was 
put  to  his  wits  end  to  find  a  way  to  dislodge  them.  Many  attempts 
failed  until  General  Rice  volunteered  to  force  a  crossing.  His  offer  was 
accepted  by  General  Sherman  and  he  proceeded  through  the  woods  by 
a  circuitous  route  to  a  point  on  the  river  known  as  Lays  Ferry,  which 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  301 

he  reached  with  his  brigade  after  dark.  At  this  point  a  rising  field 
extended  back  from  the  river,  forming  a  sort  of  ridge,  over  which  the 
road  from  the  ferry  passed,  and  on  the  summit  of  the  hill  the  ferry 
man's  house  was  located.  Welker's  battery  was  masked  behind  these 
buildings  before  daylight  the  next  morning.  During  the  night  the 
pontoon  boats,  made  of  duck,  were  stretched  over  the  frames,  and 
volunteers  of  men  to  carry  the  boats  on  their  shoulders  and  others  to 
go  along  with  arms  were  called  for,  and  three  or  four  times  the  num 
ber  wanted  volunteered  to  go,  so  those  who  got  the  job  were  finally 
selected  by  lot  from  the  volunteers. 

The  rebels  were  in  strong  force  on  the  south  side  of  the  river, 
which  was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  wide,  with  deep  earth 
works  along  the  south  bank. 

At  daylight  the  66th  Indiana  was  posted  north  of  the  crest  of 
the  ridge  in  the  field.  Welker's  Battery  was  loaded  with  shells  and  at 
the  signal  of  the  discharge  of  the  guns  of  the  battery  the  66th  In 
diana  was  to  charge  over  the  ridge  and  down  through  the  field  to  the 
river,  yelling  like  demons.  The  men  with  pontoons  and  their 
guards  were  to  run  to  the  river  at  ferry  landing  and  form  the  bridge 
across  the  river,  just  ferrying  a  few  men  over  to  engage  the  enemy. 
At  the  given  signal  pandemonium  shook  the  old  hills  with  the  booming 
of  the  cannon  and  the  yells  of  the  soldiers,  and  the  scene  became  at 
once  from  the  silence  of  the  woods,  the  active  scene  of  a  battle.  Gen 
eral  Rice  turned  to  the  writer  and  said,  "Morrison,  go  down  and  cross 
in  the  first  boat."  The  General's  staff  winked  and  said,  "Good  bye, 
Morrison."  By  this  time  the  noise  and  excitement  was  at  fever  heat. 
The  men  with  the  pontoons  reached  the  river,  crossed  over  and  the 
Rebel  line  gave  way  in  confusion,  and  the  south  side  was  gained  and 
held  first  by  the  left  wing  of  the  7th  Iowa — later  the  right  wing,  and 
finally  the  whole  brigade.  By  this  time  the  Rebels  came  to  their 
senses  and  realized  what  they  had  lost  and  a  charge  was  made  by 
a  Rebel  division,  but  our  men  could  not  be  dislodged.  The  victory 
was  complete  and  that  night  the  Rebel  army  fell  back  again,  and  the 
next  day  Sherman's  army  crossed  the  Oostanaula  River. 

The  writer  was  a  member  of  his  staff,  intimately  acquainted  with 
General  Rice,  and  knew  him  in  all  phases  of  his  character. 

After  Atlanta  was  captured  he  urged  me  to  stay  with  him  and 
offered  every  opportunity  in  his  power  to  insure  my  advancement.  We 
took  a  walk  in  the  woods  one  day  and,  sitting  on  a  log,  he  told  me  how 
much  he  was  attached  to  me  and  that  if  I  would  stay  with  him  he 
would  see  to  it  that  I  was  advanced,  but  being  young  and  never  away 
from  home  before,  I  told  him  it  was  no  use  as  home  was  my  destination. 

After  the  war  was  over  and  General  Rice  returned  home,  he 
wrote  me  one  day  from  Oskaloosa  that  he  had  decided  to  leave  Iowa 


302  HISTORY    OP   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

and  go  to  Washington  to  live.  I  wrote  him  at  once,  urging  him  to 
stay  in  Iowa  and  be  a  candidate  for  governor,  but  he  said,  "No,  he 
had  no  political  ambition."  He  went  to  Washington  and  dropped  out 
of  Iowa  history,  much  to  the  regret  of  his  many  friends.  He  finally 
came  back  to  the  state,  broken  in  health  and  a  confirmed  invalid  and 
died  a  few  months  later  at  Sioux  City. 

J.  B.  MORRISON. 


THE  FORAGER  IN  SHERMAN'S  LAST  CAMPAIGN. 
By  Major  Samuel  Mahon. 

In  discussing  the  military  situation  in  the  southwest  after  the 
fall  of  Atlanta,  General  Sherman  in  his  memoirs  uses  the  following 
language:  "I  knew  that  an  army  which  had  penetrated  Georgia  as  far 
as  Atlanta  could  not  turn  back;  must  go  ahead;  but  when,  how,  and 
where,  depended  on  many  circumstances." 

The  enormous  difficulty  of  supplying  the  army  on  the  Atlanta 
campaign  over  a  single  line  of  communication  nearly  400  miles  from 
its  base,  demonstrated  the  impossibility  of  attemptng  to  supply  an 
army  that  should  move  any  distance  south  of  the  captured  city,  and  it 
was  then  that  the  idea  took  form  of  planning  a  campaign  on  which  the 
army  should  cut  entirely  loose  from  its  base  of  supplies  and  depend 
mainly  on  the  country  for  its  support;  it  was  a  new  departure  in  the 
miltary  operations  of  the  war. 

In  looking  back  on  the  march  to  the  sea  after  the  fact,  and  at  the 
apparent  ease  with  which  it  was  executed  makes  it  easy  to  under-rate 
the  difficulties  and  uncertainties  under  which  it  was  accomplished.  The 
first  conception  belongs  undoubtedly  to  General  Sherman,  and  it  was 
sometime  after  he  had  become  convinced  of  its  importance,  before  he 
could  persuade  the  higher  military  authorities  of  its  feasibility,  and 
only  at  the  last  moment  did  he  obtain  certain  though  reluctant  consent 
to  proceed  on  the  campaign;  it  was  as  late  as  November  2nd  that  he 
received  General  Grant's  unqualified  assent  to  go  on  as  he  proposed. 
Special  Field  Orders  Nos.  119  and  120,  dated  November  8th  and  9th  give 
the  cue  to  the  general  plan  of  the  proposed  campaign.  It  is  with  Sec 
tions  3  and  4  and  part  of  Section  6  Qf  Order  120  which  this  paper  has 
more  particularly  to  deal  with,  which  I  quote  as  follows: 

"3.  There  will  be  no  general  train  of  supplies,  but  each  corps  will 
have  its  ammunition  train,  distributed  habitually  as  follows:  Behind 
each  regiment  should  follow  one  wagon  and  one  ambulance;  behind 
each  brigade  should  follow  a  due  proportion  of  ammunition  wagons, 
provision  wagons  and  ambulances.  In  case  of  danger,  each  corps  com- 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  303 

mander  should  change  this  order  of  march,  by  having  his  advance  and 
rear  brigades  unencumbered  by  wheels.  The  separate  columns  will 
start  habitually  at  7  a.  m.,  and  make  about  fifteen  miles  per  day,  unless 
otherwise  fixed  in  orders." 

"4.  The  army  will  forage  liberally  on  the  country  during  the 
march.  To  this  end,  each  brigade  commander  will  organize  a  good  and 
sufficient  foraging  party,  under  command  of  one  or  more  discreet  offi 
cers,  who  will  gather,  near  the  route  traveled,  corn  or  forage  of  any 
kind,  meat  of  any  kind,  vegetables,  corn-meal,  or  whatever  is  needed 
by  the  command,  aiming  at  all  times  to  keep  in  the  wagons  at  least  ten 
days'  provisons  for  his  command,  and  three  days'  forage.  Soldiers  must 
not  enter  the  dwellings  of  the  inhabitants,  or  commit  any  trespass;  but, 
during  a  halt  or  camp,  they  may  be  permitted  to  gather  turnips,  pota 
toes,  and  other  vegetables,  and  to  drive  in  stock  in  sight  of  their  camp. 
To  regular  foraging  parties  must  be  intrusted  the  gathering  of  pro 
visons  and  forage  at  any  distance  from  the  road  traveled. 

"6.  Forage  parties  may  also  take  mules  or  horses  to  replace  the 
jaded  animals  of  their  train  or  to  serve  as  pack-mules  for  the  regi 
ments  or  brigades.  In  all  foraging  of  whatever  kind,  the  parties  will 
refrain  from  abusive  or  threatening  language,  and  may,  where  the 
officer  in  command  thinks  proper,  give  written  certificates  of  the  fact, 
but  no  receipts;  and  they  will  endeavor  to  leave  with  each  family  a 
reasonable  portion  for  their  maintenance." 

The  other  sections  of  Field  Order  No.  120  directs  the  general 
formation  and  movements  of  the  army.  Field  Order  No.  119  is  in 
the  nature  of  a  communication  to  the  army  destined  for  this  im 
portant  expedition,  outlining  the  great  work  before  it  and  asking  their 
highest  efforts  in  discipline,  patience  and  courage  to  overcome  the 
grave  obstacles  to  be  encountered,  which  the  general  commanding 
fully  comprehended;  and  an  appeal  to  share  the  enormous  responsi 
bilities  which  he  had  taken  upon  himself  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
campaign.  It  seems  to  have  been  undetermined  at  the  outset  of 
the  campaign  what  objective  point  on  the  Atlantic  or  Gulf  coast  would 
be  made  for  the  army,  it  being  left  to  future  circumstances  and  events 
as  to  whether  it  would  be  Mobile  on  the  Gulf,  or  Savannah  or  some 
point  further  north  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  Two  things  were  abso 
lutely  necessary  in  the  movement  of  the  army;  first,  to  avoid  any 
serious  engagements,  and  second,  that  it  should  be  constantly  on 
the  move,  as  forty-eight  hours'  halt  in  any  particular  section  practically 
exhausted  the  supplies  to  be  obtained  in  the  vicinity. 

Forage  parties  were  organized  at  the  outset  of  the  campaign 
in  accordance  with  the  general  orders,  usually  consisting  of  about 
seventy-five  men  for  each  division,  properly  officered  and  under  the 
general  direction  of  an  officer  appointed  to  command  the  division  detail. 


304  HISTORY   PO    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 

The  detachment  for  each  brigade  numbering,  say,  twenty-five  men, 
under  command  of  an  officer,  foraged  separately  and  were  directed 
each  day  to  take  different  directions,  by  the  commander  of  the  division 
foragers;  this  prevented  the  different  parties  from  interfering  with 
each  other  or  foraging  over  the  same  section. 

Central  Georgia  was,  at  this  time,  the  granary  of  the  South 
and  teemed  with  supplies  of  every  description  both  for  man  and  beast. 
Abundant  supplies  for  use  of  the  army  were  obtained  within  the  line 
of  march,  and,  owing  to  the  strategic  movements  of  the  different 
columns  of  the  expedition,  the  movements  of  the  enemy  were  paralyzed 
and  but  little  opposition  was  encountered  by  either  the  forage  parties  or 
the  columns  in  march. 

How  serious  the  problem  of  keeping  the  army  supplied  by  the 
forage  parties  (as  it  approached  Savannah  and  its  progress  became 
necessarily  slower)  was  demonstrated  by  the  sudden  shortening  of 
the  supplies  as  it  traversed  the  country  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
that  city,  which  was  mainly  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  rice,  the 
army  being  compelled  to  subsist  for  several  days  on  rice  alone;  and 
those  whe  were  present  will  remember  with  me,  that  rice  in  the  sheaf 
was  issued  to  the  regiments,  which  the  men  patiently  thrashed  out  on 
their  rubber  blankets,  requiring  almost  the  constant  work  of  the 
men  to  provide  sufficient  in  this  way  to  sustain  life,  until  the  capture 
of  Fort  McAllister  and  the  opening  of  the  Ogechee  River  put  us  in  com 
munication  once  more  with  our  cracker  line. 

The  campaign  of  the  march  to  the  sea  having  been  successfully 
terminated  by  the  capture  of  the  city  of  Savannah,  the  further  move 
ments  of  the  army  under  Sherman  was  a  question  of  grave  discussion 
between  the  commander  and  the  authorities  at  Washington.  One  scheme 
proposed  by  General  Grant  was  to  move  the  army  bodily,  by  transports, 
to  some  point  on  the  coast  in  supporting  distance  of  the  armies  besieg 
ing  Richmond  and  Petersburg,  but  General  Sherman  again  urged  the 
feasibility  of  a  campaign  through  the  Carolinas  and  the  greater  results 
in  destroying  the  enemy,  to  be  obtained  therefrom.  The  obstacles  to 
be  encountered  and  overcome  were  much  more  serious  than  on  the 
march  to  the  sea.  The  season  of  the  year  was  less  propitious,  the 
topography  of  the  country  more  difficult,  and  possible  supplies  of  forage 
much  less  on  account  of  the  poorer  character  of  the  country;  but  again 
the  commander  was  allowed  his  own  way.  The  developments  and 
success  of  the  march  to  the  sea  made  the  march  through  the  Carolinas 
possible,  and  accordingly,  after  a  little  over  a  month's  stay  in  and  about 
Savannah,  about  February  1st,  Sherman's  army,  organized  substan 
tially  as  it  was  in  the  march  to  the  sea,  began  its  adventurous  career 
and  memorable  campaign  through  the  Carolinas;  its  objective  point 
being  Goldsboro  in  the  state  of  North  Carolina,  with  contingencies  de- 


VETERAN    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY  305 

pending  on  circumstances  of  striking  the  coast  at  some  point  farther 
south,  if  so  compelled. 

The  same  general  orders  were  in  force  on  the  coming  campaign 
as  were  observed  in  the  previous  one,  and  a  few  days  later  than  the 
date  above  mentioned,  Sherman's  army  was  once  more  severed  from 
all  communication  with  its  friends  in  the  North,  except  what  was 
gleaned  through  Rebel  sources.  Forage  companies  were  promptly  or 
ganized  as  in  the  previous  campaign,  but  they  soon  found  themselves 
facing  obstacles  and  difficulties  hitherto  unknown.  The  scattered 
forces  of  the  enemy  in  the  South  had  been  concentrated  to  oppose  the 
advance,  and  the  enemy  taking  their  cue  from  the  success  of  the  for 
age  parties  in  supplying  the  army  on  the  march  to  the  sea,  broke  a 
portion  of  their  cavalry  into  detached  parties  to  harass,  and,  if  possible, 
drive  in  the  foragers  on  the  main  column  and  prevent  them  obtaining 
supplies. 

The  numerous  rivers  and  creeks,  at  that  season  of  the  year  swol 
len  out  of  their  banks,  greatly  impeded  a  free  movement  of  the  for 
age  parties,  and,  together  with  the  comparative  poverty  of  the  coun 
try,  rendered  their  task  a  serious  and  adventurous  one.  The  men  of 
the  different  parties  were  compelled  to  keep  closely  together,  and 
ready  at  all  times  to  encounter  or  evade  the  enemy's  detachments; 
the  duty  was  quickly  reduced  to  a  system,  and  entailed  a  responsibil 
ity  unknown  in  the  previous  campaign. 

The  forage  parties  were  compelled,  to  begin  with,  to  furnish 
their  own  mounts  from  animals  foraged  in  the  country,  and  were  also 
compelled  to  furnish  transportation  necessary  to  bring  supplies  to  the 
column  from  the  same  sources.  Foraging  on  foot  was  impracticable 
where  a  divergence  of  five  to  fifteen  miles  from  the  flank  of  the  column 
became  a  necessity.  And  the  first  necessity  was  to  obtain  mounts. 
This  was  very  soon  accomplished,  with  every  description  of  animal 
in  the  zoological  line,  from  the  humble  donkey  to  the  thorougnbred 
pet  of  the  plantation,  and  perhaps  a  zebra  or  two  occasionally.  The 
equipment  of  bridles  and  saddles  was  as  various  and  indescribable  as 
the  mounts;  from  the  rope  halter  and  corn  sack  saddle  to  the  preten 
tious  gilt-mounted  bridle  with  blinder  attachment  of  the  family  car 
riage  team  and  a  side  saddle.  The  long  Springfield  muskets  habitually 
slung  at  the  back  were  about  as  useless  for  the  mounted  forager,  of 
fensive  or  defensive,  as  a  corn  stalk  or  tent  pole;  hence,  on  the  first  in 
timation  of  danger,  the  squad  would  be  compelled  to  dismount  as  a 
requisite  for  fighting  purposes.  It  was  not  a  pleasant  reflection  for  a 
forage  party,  perhaps  fiiteen  miles  from  its  column,  encumbered  with 
a  half  dozen  loads  of  promiscuous  forage,  loaded  on  unreliable  vehicles, 
drawn  by  unreliable  animals,  in  unreliable  harness,  with  unreliable 
drivers— usually  negroes— to  be  notified  by  the  shots  of  the  advance 


306  HISTORY    OF    THE   SEVENTH   IOWA 

guard  that  they  had  encountered  in  their  front  a  party  of  the  enemy 
on,  perhaps,  the  only  known  road  by  which  they  could  successfully 
reach  the  column;  and  it  often  required  a  degree  of  courage,  judgment 
and  prudence  on  the  part  of  the  commander  of  the  party  to  extricate 
his  command  and  their  convoy,  which  would  have  earned  him  repu 
tation  in  a  larger  command. 

The  life  of  the  forager  on  the  Carolina  campaign  was  a  dan 
gerous  and  exciting  one.  Woodcraft  was  a  first  necessity,  as  roads  had 
frequently  to  be  abandoned  for  a  course  through  the  woods  or  across 
the  country,  and  with  every  sense  constantly  on  a  strain  to  discover 
or  elude  a  possible  enemy,  which,  together  with  the  long  hours  in  the 
saddle,  usually  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  in  the  twenty-four,  physical 
endurance  was  often  taxea  to  exhaustion.  The  different  parties  of  the 
division  made  it  a  rule,  if  possible,  to  join  the  column  every  night, 
where  general  directions  for  the  ensuing  day,  with  the  routes  to  be 
pursued  in  seeking  forage,  were  discussed  and  decided.  The  usual 
plan  was  to  start  from  the  column  about  daylight,  or  about  an  hour 
before  the  column  moved,  take  roads  leading  from  either  flank,  gen 
erally  endeavoring  to  travel  at  a  diverging  angle  from  the  line  of  march 
of  the  column  that  day,  ride  until  sufficient  forage  was  obtained — 
twelve  to  fifteen  miles  being  generally  the  limit  of  distance;  having 
loaded  *he  forage,  supposing  them  to  have  ben  unmolested,  they  then 
took  roads  converging  toward  the  column  where  they  were  expected 
to  camp  the  same  night. 

When  the  party  was  fortunate,  it  would  strike  the  head  of  the 
column,  but  sometimes  they  would  reach  the  road  over  which  the 
column  passed  some  hours  before;  then  followed  a  long,  tiresome  march 
over  roads  already  cut  to  pieces,  and  it  was  sometimes  midnight  or 
after  before  the  jaded  detachment  was  able  to  turn  over  its  forage  to 
its  quartermaster;  and  more  than  once  the  brigade  waited  for  its 
supper  until  the  welcome  advent  of  the  forage  party.  In  this  way 
supplies  of  all  description  were  gathered.  Cattle  were  the  easiest  man 
aged  and  could  be  driven  quite  a  long  distance.  Swine  had  to  be 
abandoned  unless  comparatively  close  to  the  column.  Flour,  bacon, 
potatoes,  corn  meal,  sorghum,  poultry,  rice,  etc.,  had  to  be  loaded  into 
vehicles,  carts,  plantation  wagons,  and  even  carriages  being  impressed. 
Of  mules  there  was  plenty,  but  the  harness  of  such  unreliable  descrip 
tion  that  frequent  halts  were  required  to  patch  and  mend.  Often  the 
concealed  supplies  of  the  plantation  had  to  be  discovered  before  being 
taken,  but  the  negroes  were  our  allies  here,  as  well  as  on  every  other 
occasion,  and  the  supplies  were  soon  found  and  exhumed  from  the  pits 
where  they  had  been  consigned  and  carefully  covered  up  from  sight. 
Corn  meal  and  flour  was  always  a  welcome  ration  for  the  men,  and 
every  country  mill  encountered  was  utilized  in  grinding  corn  as  long 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  307 

as  the  column  remained  in  safe  distance.  It  was  only  necessary  to  call 
for  a  miller  to  have  one  step  to  the  front,  and  he  had  the  willing  as 
sistance  of  the  squad  in  furnishing  grist  and  sacking  and  loading  the 
product. 

I  had  in  my  mind  a  small  water  mill,  taken  possession  of  by  a 
squad  of  foragers  a  full  day's  march  in  advance  of  the  army,  which 
ran  constantly  three  days  and  nights,  until  the  rear  guard  was  nearly 
a  day's  march  beyond,  turning  out  corn  meal,  the  corn  being  hauled 
in  from  the  neighborhood  when  the  mill  stock  was  exhausted. 

On  another  occasion,  forage  being  scarce,  two  parties  being  com 
bined,  making  about  fifty  men  in  the  command,  made  a  bold  ride  twen 
ty  miles  on  the  flank  to  a  plantation  reported  to  have  plenty  of  sup- 
ulies.  The  start  was  made  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  the 
plantation  reached  between  ten  and  eleven.  Abundant  supplies  were 
found  and  some  six  or  eight  wagons  loaded,  and  without  delay  headed 
towards  the  road  on  which  the  column  was  moving.  Wjth  about  thirty 
miles  to  ride,  all  went  well  until  darkness  set  in  when  the  party  be 
came  uncertain  as  to  its  road,  and  it  was  discovered  that  the  negro 
guides  were  only  reliable  for  a  distance  of  eight  or  ten  miles  from 
their  own  neighborhood.  A  new  guide,  however,  was  soon  found  and 
the  command  moved  on  until  stopped  by  an  alarm  (from  the  advance 
guard)  of  a  burning  bridge.  The  command  was  quickly  dismounted, 
formed  and  moved  to  the  front,  the  fire  put  out,  skirmishers  crossed, 
but  the  enemy  probably  discovering  the  strength  of  the  party,  con 
cluded  not  to  molest  them.  The  command  at  last  reached  the  column 
after  being  in  the  saddle  twenty-two  hours. 

The  numerous  rivers  encountered  in  the  march  made  foraging 
difficult,  rorage  parties  were  compelled  to  cross  in  advance  and  scout 
the  country  beyond,  realizing  that  they  had  a  river  in  their  rear  and 
no  supports  to  fall  back  on.  One  such  instance  occurs  to  me,  at  the 
crossing  of  Lynch  Creek  in  South  Carolina.  The  creek  was  out  of  its 
banks  for  probably  one-fourth  of  a  mile  on  each  side  of  the  bridge 
and  it  was  only  large  animals  that  could  cross  the  overflowed  bottom 
without  swimming.  Two  parties  of  foragers  met  at  the  bridge,  which 
was  guarded  by  some  companies  of  cavalry,  who  warned  them  of  the 
presence  of  the  enemy  on  the  other  side.  Supplies,  however,  were  im 
perative,  and  the  two  parties  crossed  and  at  once  divided  at  the  cross 
roads  beyond.  One  party  found  forage  of  all  descriptions  at  a  large 
plantation  about  three  miles  from  the  river,  and  at  once  began  loading 
into  wagons  and  preparing  to  move  the  forage  back  to  the  cross-roads, 
there  to  await  the  advance  of  the  column  across  the  river.  Suddenly 
an  orderly  dashed  out  of  the  timber  hatless  and  excited,  with  the  in 
formation  that  the  enemy's  cavalry  had  occupied  the  cross-roads  and 
that  the  detachment  must  find  its  way  back  as  best  it  could.  He  proved 


308 


HISTORY    FO    THE    SEVENTH    IOWA 


to  be  an  orderly  of  General  Elliott  W.  Rice,  commanding  the  First 
Brigade  of  the  Fourth  Division,  Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  who,  riding 
down  to  the  creek  in  advance  of  his  command  and  learning  that  a 
large  party  of  foragers  had  crossed,  crossed  with  his  staff  and  had 
just  reached  the  cross-roads  when  they  were  ridden  into  by  a  party 
of  the  enemy.  Himself  and  staff  dispersed  in  the  woods,  eluding  the 
enemy's  party,  the  orderly  being  directed  to  ride  out  and  find  the  forage 
party  and  bring  them  in;  returning  nastily  to  the  cross-roads,  ready  to 
dismount  and  engage  at  a  moment's  notice,  the  foragers  found  no 
sign  of  the  enemy,  but  a  very  angry  general  instead,  who  had  been 
compelled,  much  against  his  inclination,  to  bushwhack  in  the  brush 
to  avoid  capture. 

The  foragers  were  at  once  ordered  to  proceed  on  the  other  road 
and  find  the  enemy,  and  if  possible  draw  them  toward  the  crossing, 
where  they  were  promised  a  warm  reception  by  the  infantry,  who  had 
by  this  time  begun  to  arrive,  having  undressed  and  waded  the  over 
flowing  bottom  and  were  hurrying  up  in  the  same  straggling  manner 
in  every  form  of  dishabille,  their  teeth  chattering  from  the  cold  bath 
they  had  taken  in  the  river.  The  foraging  party  moved  promptly  out 
avoiding  the  road  for  about  a  mile,  the  commander  aware  of  the  fact 
that  the  second  forage  party  was  still  out  on  that  road.  As  the  com 
mand  approached  the  road  where  it  descended  into  a  hollow,  a  lively 
fusilade  broke  out  a  short  distance  in  front.  Instantly  the  men  were 
on  their  feet,  abandoning  their  mounts,  and  ready  for  action.  The 
advance  of  the  column  was  plainly  in  sight,  filling  the  road  in  front, 
dressed  in  blue  uniforms,  which  were  instantly  divined  to  be  our  second 
party  being  driven  in,  and  the  command  was  quickly  given  to  wait  until 
our  men  had  passed  before  opening  fire.  The  uniforms  however,  were 
deceptive,  and  covered,  not  friends,  but  enimies,  and  they  rode  into 
the  squad  commanding  them  to  surrender.  The  bewilderment  of  the 
deception,  however,  lasted  but  a  moment  and  with  each  man  at  a  tree, 
the  enemy  soon  found  that  they  had  stirred  up  a  hornet's  nest,  and 
were  not  slow  in  getting  out  of  that  immediate  vicinity.  The  com 
mander  of  that  detachment  found  himself,  on  this  occasion,  in  a  very 
ludicrous  predicament;  unfortunately  he  had  remained  mounted,  the 
better  to  observe  the  movement  in  the  timber,  and  found  himself  un 
expectedly  surrounded  by  a  half  dozen  excited  Confederates  calling  on 
him  to  surrender,  and  who  were  so  much  in  each  other's  way  that 
their  weapons  were  useless.  With  a  quick  touch  of  the  spurs,  the 
little  gray  broke  through  the  circle,  and  the  inglorious  spectacle  was 
presented  of  the  commander  taking  French  leave  of  his  men,  mean 
time  deploring  the  luck  that  had  induced  him  to  remain  mounted  in 
a  bush-whacking  skirmish.  To  make  the  situation  more  embarrassing 
the  infantry  skirmishers  were  met  a  few  yards  to  the  rear  and  the 


.   VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  309 

joke  on  the  commander  soon  spread  through  the  brigade.  The  forage 
squad  had  meantime  disposed  of  the  enemy  and  left  nothing  for  the 
skirmishers  to  do.  The  second  party,  strange  to  say,  soon  came  back 
with  a  good  supply  of  provisions  and  forage,  having  encountered  no 
enemy  whatever,  and  were  only  hastened  back  by  hearing  the  firing. 
Events  proved  that  the  whole  of  Butler's  Confederate  Division  of 
Cavalry  was  in  the  immediate  vicinity  and  detained  the  advance  of 
the  army  after  crossing  for  over  a  day. 

In  this  campaign  of  surprises  in  military  annals,  the  fact  was 
demonstrated  that  the  forage  parties  were  not  only  efficient  in  procur 
ing  supplies  for  the  army,  but  that  they  served  another  and  import 
ant  purpose. 

The  whole  forage  force  of  the  army,  say  fourteen  divisions, 
amounted  to  1,000  to  1,200  men;  these  were  distributed  in  about  fifty 
separate  parties.  They  foraged  probably  a  day's  march  in  advance  of 
the  army  and  from  ten  to  nfteen  miles  on  either  flank,  forming  a  cur 
tain  or  skirmish  line  which  effectually  concealed  the  movements  of 
the  different  columns.  They  were  composed  of  picked  men,  and  were 
brave,  intelligent  and  prudent.  They  were  scouts  as  well  as  foragers 
and  often  conveyed  important  information.  Habitually  in  the  ad 
vance,  they  always  first  encountered  resistance  where  it  was  offered, 
and  obtained  the  crossing  of  the  various  rivers,  except  where  the 
streams  were  too  large  to  ford  or  swim,  or  the  bridges  burned. 

General  Sherman  tells  a  good  story  on  General  Howard,  who, 
at  the  beginning  of  this  campaign,  had  deployed  the  leading  division 
of  the  Seventeenth  Corps  and  was  moving  with  great  caution  towards 
Midway,  a  station  on  the  South  Caroline  road,  which  was  very  import 
ant  should  be  occupied.  The  leading  division  was  moving  across 
country  in  line  of  battle  well  supported,  General  Howard  sitting  by 
the  roadside  watching  the  movement,  when  a  forager  came  riding 
rapidly  down  the  road  from  the  direction  of  Midway,  on  a  white  horse 
with  a  rope  bridle,  and  a  blanket  for  a  saddle,  who,  as  he  came  near, 
shouted,  "Hurry  up,  General,  we  have  got  the  railroad!"  "So,"  says 
General  Sherman,  "while  we,  the  Generals,  were  proceeding  deliber 
ately  to  prepare  for  a  srious  battle,  a  parcel  of  our  foragers  had  got 
ahead  and  actually  captured  the  South  Carolina  Railroad,  a  line  of 
vital  importance  to  the  Rebel  government." 

The  forager  was  usually  denominated  a  bummer,  an  epithet 
which  does  not  imply  very  high  military  characteristics;  it  was  ap 
plied,  I  think,  largely  for  the  reason  that  many  of  the  irregularities 
and  unauthorized  plundering,  inevitable  to  a  military  campaign,  were 
attributed  to  him.  I  want  to  vindicate  the  regular  forage  parties  from 
any  such  imputation;  the  robberies  and  plunderings  were  done  by 
stragglers,  traveling  singly  or  in  pairs,  skulking  through  the  country 


3lO  HISTORY    Of   THE   SEVENTH    IOWA 

for  the  sole  purpose  of  plunder;  such  wretches  could  easily  avoid  the 
enemy  by  dodging  in  the  woods  and  concealing  themselves.  They  only 
appeared  when  there  was  none  but  women  and  children  to  oppose  them 
and  camped  at  night  away  from  the  column  and  concealed  in  the  woods. 

The  forage  parties  were  compelled  to  keep  together  for  safety 
and  sucess,  under  the  command  of  an  officer,  and  habitually  rejoined 
the  column  at  night;  they  had  but  little  opportunity  for  plunder  and 
no  means  of  caring  for  it  if  obtained.  The  qualities  displayed  in  the 
execution  of  their  duties  were  of  the  highest  order,  and  it  is  greatly 
to  be  regretted  that  the  implied  slur  remains  on  their  good  name  even 
to  this  day. 

An  honest  endeavor  was  made  by  the  regulur  foragers  to  carry 
out  the  letter  of  the  general  order.  I  never  knew  of  an  instance  where 
people  were  left  destitute  of  food,  no  matcer  how  pressing  were  the 
needs  of  the  army;  enough  was  left  to  keep  the  people  from  hunger, 
and  I  verily  believe  that  the  system,  harsh  at  best,  was  carried  out  in 
as  humane  a  manner  as  ever  has  been  done  in  civilized  warfare. 

From  Sunday,  the  5th  of  February,  1865,  the  day  on  which  the 
forage  parties  of  the  Fourth  Division,  Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  were 
organized,  until  Friday,  March  24th,  when  the  army  crossed  the  Noose 
River  and  went  into  camp  near  Goldsboro,  was  a  period  of  nearly  seven 
weeks;  and  for  each  week,  the  man  who  served  contiuously  on  forage 
duty,  lived,  I  believe,  one  year  of  his  life.  The  strain  of  physical  fatigue 
and  mental  anxiety  has  no  parallel  in  the  severest  active  service,  and 
it  was  a  welcome  day  when  the  order  came  dismissing  the  forage 
detail. 

March  10,  1896. 

BROTHER  AGAINST  BROTHER. 

A  writer  in  Philadelphia  relates  the  following:  "In  one  of  our 
beautiful  cemeteries  was  employed  a  venerable  man.  For  a  number 
of  years  past  he  had  prepared  the  last  resting  place  for  those  called 
from  among  us.  Though  poor,  he  raised  four  gallant  boys,  giving  to 
each  of  them  a  moderate  education  and  a  good  trade.  The  two  older 
went  to  New  Orleans  before  the  war,  where  prosperity  attended  their 
industry. 

The  two  younger  brothers  remained  with  their  father.  George 
and  Frederick  were  their  names.  The  latter  was  but  seventeen  years 
of  age.  When  the  war  broke  out,  both  enlisted.  The  elder  brothers 
had  constantly  written  home,  and  frequent  presents  accompanied 
their  letters.  At  the  battle  of  Fredricksburg,  in  the  very  front  of  the 
line,  at  the  church  upon  the  rifle  pits  back  of  the  town,  were  the  two 
boys,  Frederick  and  George.  A  sortie  was  made  by  the  rebel  riflemen 


VETERAN   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY  311 

upon  the  retreating  Federals,  and  among  those  who  dropped  were  the 
two  youngest  sons  of  the  grave  digger.  A  minnie  ball  had  pierced 
the  bodies  of  each. 

The  Rebel  soldiers  who  had  done  the  deed,  were  clad  in  rags  of 
linsey.  They  ran  with  alacrity  to  secure  the  clothing  and  canteens 
of  the  men  they  had  laid  low.  The  foremost  one  reached  the  body  of 
his  dead  enemy,  turned  it  over — for  the  face  was  downward — and  to 
his  horror  beheld  the  corpse  of  his  younger  brother,  his  woolen  shirt 
stained  with  a  stream  of  blood  that  oozed  from  a  bullet  hole  above  the 
heart.  Our  informant,  a  chaplain  of  the  army,  could  tell  us  nothing 
of  the  other  Rebel  brother.  But  this  one  made  his  way  into  the  Union 
lines,  went  to  the  hospital  and  became  a  hopeless  maniac.  We  learn 
that  in  their  childhood  this  youngling  of  the  flock  had  been  the  especial 
charge  of  the  elder  brother.  When  he  left  for  New  Orleans  it  was 
with  the  expectation  of  entering  business  to  which  he  could  bring  up 
the  boy.  That  boy  he  lived  to  shoot  down  with  his  own  hands.  The 
father  died  of  a  broken  heart.  This  is  a  simple  statement  of  fact. 
It  is  doubtless  one  of  many  never  to  be  written." 


AFTER  THE  BATTLE. 

It  was  after  the  din  of  the  battle 

Had  ceased,  in  the  silent  and  gloom, 
When  hushed  was  the  musketry's  rattle, 

And  quiet  the  cannon's  deep  boom. 
The  smoke  of  the  conflict  had  lifted, 

And  drifted  away  from  the  sun, 

While  with  soft  crimson  light,  slowly  fading  from  sight. 
Flashed  back  from  each  motionless  gun. 

The  tremulous  notes  of  a  bugle 

Rang  out  on  the  clear  autumn  air, 
And  the  echoes  caught  back  from  the  mountains 

Faint  whispers,   like   breathings  of  prayer. 
The  arrows  of  sunlight  that  slanted 

Through  the  trees  touched   a  brow  white  as  snow, 
On  the  bloody  sod  lying,  'mid  the  dead  and  the  dying, 

And   it  flushed   in  the  last  parting  glow. 

The  dark  crimson  tide  slowly  ebbing 

'Stained  red  the  light  jacket  of  gray; 
But  another  in  blue  sadly  knelt  by  his  side 

And  watched  the  life  passing  away. 
Said  the  jacket  in  gray,  "I've  a  brother — 

Joe  Turner — he  lives  up  in  Maine. 
Give  him  these — and  say  my  last  message 

Was  forgiveness."    Here  a  low  moan  of  pain 
Checked  his  voice.     Then — "You'll  do  me  this  favor, 

For  you  shot  me" — and  his  whispers  sank  low. 
Said  the  jacket  in  blue,  "Brother  Charlie, 

There's  no  need — I'm  your  brother — I'm  Joe." 

— V.  Stuart  Mosby, 


IOWA'S    KILLED    AND   WOUNDED. 

The  following  table,  complied  from  the  adjutant  general's  report  of 
1867,  shows  the  number  of  killed  and  wounded  in  the  different  Iowa  regi 
ments  in  the  war  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion . 

INFANTRY    REGIMENTS. 


NUMBKE  OF  REGIMENTS  AS  THEY  RANK 

Comm'd  Officers 
killed  in  action.... 

Oomm'd  Officers 
died  of  wounds  ._ 

Comm'd  Officers 
wounded  

W 

8£ 

cc 

r- 

IB 
gs 

'  £T 

Enlisted  men  died 
of  wounds  

Enlisted  men 

£ 

y> 

Fifteenth 

22 

Ninth                          

94 

388 

Seventh               ...              

4 

0 

2-2 

95 

o- 

Sixth  

7 

18 

1UO 

•jn 

•JOJ. 

Third 

'34 

Fourth 

16 

ta 

458 

Sixteenth            .                   ....           

tj 

•.} 

21 

57 

01 

000 

ifK 

Thirteenth        . 

2 

4 

19 

66 

39 

980 

4l)o 

Second                                                  

g 

4 

25 

63 

in 

98  ••» 

Fifth 

K 

17 

KQ 

Twenty-four        

7 

2 

17 

58 

53 

240 

377 

Twenty-two                                      •   • 

4 

21 

KO 

Tenth                                                                

g 

** 

16 

56 

33 

9V4 

Of>  < 

Twenty-eight       ....         ....                      

4 

2 

IB 

52 

24 

230 

oo  U 

2 

g 

19 

43 

18 

9'>^ 

01  rj 

Eleven                                           

3 

2 

8 

54 

94 

216 

307 

Eight    .                                                 .     

3 

1 

13 

49 

43 

188 

297 

Thirty 

4 

5 

17 

39 

23 

•  oo 

288 

5 

1 

53 

33 

180 

279 

Twelve     

3 

I 

11 

30 

32 

197 

274 

Eighteen  .                        ...         ....         .... 

2 

5 

26 

7 

225 

2^5 

Thirty-three 

4 

8 

25 

37 

166 

240 

Twenty  five                                  

2 

19 

39 

22 

154 

236 

Thirty-two 

3 

3 

9 

57 

33 

131 

°36 

Twenty-six                                             ... 

2 

4 

22 

42 

28 

137 

235 

Fourteen   ...                              

3 

2 

6 

27 

22 

160 

2-^0 

Twenty-one 

1 

3 

11 

37 

29 

135 

216 

Thirty-six                               

1 

4 

35 

24 

142 

206 

Twenty-three 

2 

3 

9 

39 

30 

122 

205 

Thirty-nine 

7 

2 

b 

32 

21 

103 

170 

Twerty-seven 

1 

7 

14 

132 

160 

First                  ..                                             

1 

4 

12 

5 

137 

159 

Twenty  -nine 

•• 

8 

20 

17 

97 

143 

Thirty-five 

3 

1 

2 

23 

19 

91 

139 

Thirty-one 

2 

8 

11 

16 

75 

112 

Twenty 

6 

8 

5 

41 

61 

Forty  

• 

2 

5 

10 

41 

58 

Thirty-four         

1 

3 

3 

9 

12 

21 

Thirty-eight    

1 

2 

3 

Thirty-seven  

9 

CAVALRY    REGIMENTS. 


Third  .. 

3 

2 

12 

58 

20 

T50 

245 

Second.        .     

1 

12 

37 

22 

152 

224 

Fourth                                                        ' 

3 

7 

37 

11 

108 

166 

First... 

1 

1 

4 

34 

20 

81 

141 

Eight  .. 

3 

.10 

24 

9 

7o 

121 

Five 

2 

6 

36 

7 

47 

103 

Seuen 

1 

28 

1 

4 

34 

Sixth 

1 

1 

16 

5 

15 

38 

Nine  .                   

5 

10 

13 

28 

ARTILLERY     BATTERIES. 


First  

- 

3 

27 

37 

Third  

2 

1 

14 

17 

Second 

j 

1 

14 

16 

Fourth 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  table  that  the  Sixth  and    Seventh  regi 
ments  lost  the  heaviest  in  killed  and  mortally  wounded— 130  each. 


VETERAN  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  313 

SOME  CIVIL  WAR  FIGURES. 

When  the  southern  states  seceded  from  the  Union  over  one- 
eighth  of  the  population  of  the  country  consisted  of  slaves.  Of  these, 
175,000  entered  the  United  States  service  before  the  close  of  the  war 
and  fought  nobly  for  their  own  freedom. 

The  first  troops  were  volunteers,  and  there  was  no  drafting  or 
conscripting  until  1863.  In  the  army  and  navy  forces  there  were  nearly 
3,000,000  of  *nen  engaged  in  the  defense  of  the  flag.  Of  this  number 
something  like  67,000  were  regulars  or  belonged  to  the  standing  army 
of  the  United  States. 

Of  the  trooops  in  the  Union  army,  two-thirds  were  American 
born,  and  of  the  one-third  foreign  born  most  of  them  were  naturalized 
citizens.  They  enlisted  at  first  for  "three  months,"  and  were  called 
"ninety-day"  men;  then  the  enlistments  were  made  for  a  year,  and 
toward  the  end  for  "three  years  or  the  war." 

The  Northern  army  was  divided  into  twenty-five  army  corps,  con 
secutively  numbered,  and  one  cavalry  corps. 

It  is  estimated  that  of  every  1,000  men  in  the  Union  army  sev 
enty-three  men  on  the  sick-list  and  234  absent  for  various  reasons  was 
the  general  average,  leaving  693  reporting  for  duty. 

The  number  of  men  who  deserted  reached  199,045;  those  dis 
missed  trom  the  service,  2,423;  those  dishonorably  discharged,  2,693; 
cashiered,  274;  executed  by  sentence,  seven,  making  a  total  of  204,442 
who  disgraced  the  army  blue. 

The  number  of  men  killed  in  battle  and  died  on  the  field  was  61- 
362.  There  were  34,773  died  of  wounds,  183,287  died  of  disease,  306  were 
accidentiy  killed,  G,749  were  missing  in  action  and  never  accounted  for, 
174,577  were  honorably  dis2harged,  224,306  were  discharged  for  disa 
bility,  and  22,281  resigned. 

Summing  up  all  the  losses  from  disease,  battle,  and  casuality,  it  is 
estimated  that  half  a  million  men  lost  their  lives  in  the  war  of  the 
rebellion.  They  found  death  on  2,400  fields  worthy  a  name  in  history, 
averaging  two  battles  3  day  for  each  day  of  the  war.  In  150  of  these 
battles  the  loss  in  each  was  over  500  men. 

The  North  raised  money  on  loans  from  abroad,  increasing  the 
United  States  debt  from  $85,000,000  in  1861  to  $2,617,000,0000  in  1865. 
The  whole  cost  of  the  war  is  estimated  to  have  been  $3,400,000,000,  or 
about  $2,500,000  a  day. 

There  are  buried  in  the  national  cemeteries  318,870  men  who 
died  in  battle  and  in  prison,  or  from  the  effects  of  one  or  both. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  there  were  1,000,000  men  in  the  service; 
of  this  number  650,000  were  available  for  active  duty. — St.  Paul  Globe. 


51128 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


